A football club for overweight men is set to launch in Dagenham this month after helping a a man lose three and a half stone in under a year. 

Chris Bell joined MAN v FAT in January this year in an effort to lose unwanted weight and get back into football. 

The club was created for men with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of above 27.5, and operates over 150 groups across the UK. 

According to figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, two thirds of the adult population in Barking and Dagenham were classed as overweight or obese in 2023. 

Since joining the Kensington club in January, 32-year-old Chris has lost three and a half stone (almost 50 pounds), leaving him feeling the best he ever has. 

Statistics show that over two-thirds of the population in Barking and Dagenham were classed as overweight or obese in 2023Statistics show that over two-thirds of the population in Barking and Dagenham were classed as overweight or obese in 2023 (Image: MAN v FAT Football Club) He said: "I’d got into some bad habits with my diet and not really paying attention to what I was eating so I wasn't getting anywhere trying to lose weight.

"Plus, I'd been wanting to get back into football for a long time, so MAN v FAT was a no brainer for me.


“I’m mentally and physically feeling the best I think I ever have."

The Dagenham branch will open on September 27 at the Bobby Moore Sports Hub in Parsloes Park. 

Players are weighed before taking part in weekly 30-minute games of six-a-side football to help them on their weight loss journey.

Club members play weekly 30-minute matchesClub members play weekly 30-minute matches (Image: MAN v FAT Football Club) The league position of teams within the club is decided by the team's combined weight loss and match scores. 

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Head of football at MAN v FAT, Richard Crick, said: “While the main aim of the programme is to help men lose weight, MAN v FAT is about so much more than that.

"Great friendships are formed at our clubs and thousands of players across the UK have benefited from an improvement in their mental wellbeing, as well as their physical health. 

“The programme is perfect for men who want to get back into playing football but might initially feel nervous about doing so due to their fitness levels."