'Coz football is what we all have': masculinities, practice, performance and effervescence in a gender-sensitised weight-loss and healthy living programme for men

Bunn, C. , Wyke, S. , Gray, C. M. , Maclean, A. and Hunt, K. (2016) 'Coz football is what we all have': masculinities, practice, performance and effervescence in a gender-sensitised weight-loss and healthy living programme for men. Sociology of Health and Illness, 38(5), pp. 812-828. (doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.12402) (PMID:26864994) (PMCID:PMC4950300)

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Abstract

In this paper we use a social practice approach to explore men’s experience of Football Fans in Training (FFIT), a group-based weight management programme for men that harnesses men’s symbolic attachment to professional football clubs to engage them in lifestyle change. FFIT is delivered by community coaches in clubs’ stadia and is gender-sensitised in relation to context, content and style of delivery. Using a ‘toolkit’ of concepts from the work of Bourdieu, Goffman and Durkheim we analysed data from 13 focus group discussions with participants, and fieldwork notes from programme observations to investigate the appeal and success of FFIT, and how it worked to support change. Our analysis builds on our work on the importance of shared symbolic commitment to the football club and being with “men like me” to understand how the interaction context facilitated ‘effervescent’ experiences. These experiences encouraged men to make changes to their diet and physical activity, talk about them, practice performing them and implement them in their lives. Thus a social practice approach illuminated the social processes through which lifestyle change was achieved, and we argue that it can deepen and enrich both intervention design and evaluation.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gray, Professor Cindy and Wyke, Professor Sally and Hunt, Professor Kathryn and Bunn, Dr Christopher and MacLean, Dr Alice
Authors: Bunn, C., Wyke, S., Gray, C. M., Maclean, A., and Hunt, K.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Social Scientists working in Health and Wellbeing
College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences
Journal Name:Sociology of Health and Illness
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0141-9889
ISSN (Online):1467-9566
Published Online:11 February 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Sociology of Health and Illness 38(5):812-828
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
540671Football Fans in Training (FFIT):a randomized controlled trial of a gender-sensitive weight loss and healthy living programme delivered to men aged 35-60 by Scottish Premier League football clubsSally WykeNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)09/3010/06SPS - INST. OF HEALTH & WELLBEING
656581Gender and HealthKathryn HuntMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/3IHW - MRC/CSO SPHU