The Chilliwack Chiefs and Club XO are partnering with researchers at Western University to offer the ‘Hockey Fans in Training’ program.
Hockey FIT is a three month, off-ice, healthy-lifestyle program for men who are overweight or obese and fans of their local hockey team.
It is offered free-of-charge to eligible participants as part of a federally-funded research study.
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According to the Hockey FIT website at hockeyfansintraining.org, “Canadian men live on average, four years less than their female counterparts. Men are more likely than women to have obesity and are at a greater risk for preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
“Established in 2014, Hockey FIT was developed to address this growing health inequity and provide men with the tools and resources to change their lifestyle for the better.”
Chilliwack is one of 11 western communities currently taking part in the project.
Other BCHL markets include Penticton, Victoria, Surrey and Prince George along with Kamloops, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Prince Albert and Swift Current.
The program is headed by Dr. Rob Petralla, professor at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at Western U.
Recruitment for Chilliwack has already started, and ends April 15. Assessments for potential participants begin in April so anyone who is interested needs to be registered before that date.
To sign up for the program or get more info, visit hockeyfansintraining.org/contact-2-2/
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