FIT OWLS removed Derek’s fear of future illness
“In relation to my health the future is a lot brighter!”
FIT OWLS allowed Derek to make maintainable changes to his lifestyle amidst fear of history repeating itself.
Derek Wright has had a torrid time of ill health, in 2015 he required a total knee replacement and just 2 years later was diagnosed with prostate cancer before having it removed. A year after his diagnosis and prostate removal he started the grueling process of radiotherapy. To add further to the unimaginable constant of bad health in the same year, 2018, he contracted deep vein thrombosis in his leg.
These 4 years of serious health issues meant Derek was aware that he needed to do something to ensure it was not repeated. His weight reached 20 stone, and this was the milestone that forced him into change via FIT FANS.
Average weight loss statistics for the FIT FANS programme are impressive and exceed those of many other programmes. On average women lose well over 3kg and men over 5.5kg by the end of the 12 weeks. We also have evidence that lifestyle change and weight loss is sustained over the following 12 months. More than 90% of men and 85% of women lose weight during the programme with many losing a clinically significant amount. Our data shows FIT FANS helps people to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary time, leading to weight loss, a significant reduction in blood pressure and improvement in self-reported mental wellbeing measures.
In 2020, he joined the FIT FANS initiative at his club, Sheffield Wednesday. The programme has educated Derek on his dietary and exercise habits and with these small changes, he now commits to walking every day whilst being aware of the food he eats.
He comments: ” I wanted a realistic plan that I could take forward into my new healthy lifestyle. Weight loss was important, but I wanted a strategy that would delivered in a clear and understandable message. It was a bonus that it was delivered at my football club!”
Having lost a total of 31.5kg and reduced his previously dangerous BMI to 28.6, Derek is now supported by the FIT OWLS maintenance programme and attends other weekly clubs hosted by Sheffield Wednesday to continue his progress physically, mentally and socially.
