• diet quality
• eHealth
• feasibility
• food skills
• obesity
• sleeve gastrectomy

• Humans
• Female
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Feasibility Studies
• Pilot Projects
• Gastrectomy/methods
• Adult
• Australia
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Patient Education as Topic/methods
• Treatment Outcome
• Diet/methods
• Internet-Based Intervention

• Australian government Research Training Program scholarship

• Clinical trials
• Disparities
• Message framing
• Recruitment

• K01 DK119457 NIDDK NIH HHS

• interventions
• obesity
• recruitment
• self‐weighing
• treatment initiation
• weight management

• R03 HL154272 NHLBI NIH HHS
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

• Compliance
• Male
• Physical activity
• Web

• clinical trials
• motivations
• obesity
• qualitative interviews
• weight loss

• Humans
• Male
• Female
• Motivation
• Qualitative Research
• Weight Loss
• Obesity/therapy

• digital health
• mHealth
• obesity
• weight loss maintenance

• Depression
• Help-seeking
• Lifestyle behaviour change
• Men
• Psychotherapy

• behavioral issues
• behavioral research
• health care issues
• health promotion and disease prevention
• obesity
• occupational health
• qualitative research
• research
• work-related health

• obesity
• obesity in adults
• obesity in men
• obesity/prevention and control

• Behavior Therapy
• Humans
• Male
• Obesity/prevention & control
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

• K01 HL145128 NHLBI NIH HHS
• L30 HL159690 NHLBI NIH HHS

• Education
• Inequities
• Latin America
• Obesity
• Socio-economic factors

• Wellcome Trust
• 205177 Wellcome Trust

• RCT
• inequalities
• socioeconomic characteristics
• weight management

• Process evaluation
• behaviour change
• diet
• motivation
• physical activity
• self-determination
• weight loss

• Behaviour change
• Intervention
• Low mood
• Masculinity
• Mediation analysis
• eHealth

• behavior change
• depression
• males
• mental fitness
• obesity
• online
• physical activity
• process evaluation

• Humans
• Male
• Men
• Men's Health
• Mental Health
• Middle Aged
• Motivation
• Overweight/therapy
• Telemedicine

• healthy eating
• instrument development
• obesity prevention
• social marketing
• social media
• young adults

• Adolescent
• Body Weight
• Eating/psychology
• Feeding Behavior/psychology
• Female
• Health Promotion/methods
• Humans
• Life Style
• Male
• Reproducibility of Results
• Social Marketing
• Young Adult

• GNT1115496 National Health and Medical Research Council

• Adult
• Aged
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Exercise/physiology
• Follow-Up Studies
• Healthy Lifestyle/physiology
• Obesity/epidemiology
• Obesity/physiopathology
• Obesity/therapy
• Overweight/epidemiology
• Overweight/physiopathology
• Overweight/therapy
• Pilot Projects
• Sex Factors
• Single-Blind Method
• Weight Loss/physiology
• Weight Reduction Programs/methods
• Western Australia/epidemiology
• Sports

• MC_UU_12017/12 Medical Research Council
• MC_UU_12017/3 Medical Research Council
• CZG/2/504 Chief Scientist Office
• 09/3010/06 Department of Health
• Healthway

• diet
• lifestyle behaviour change
• physical activity
• well-being

Obese men are at an increased risk of chronic disease and are far less likely than women to attempt weight loss. There is a need to successfully recruit men to weight loss clinical trials. Overweight and obese men were recruited to a 6-month, randomized, controlled weight loss trial. Initial recruitment efforts were aimed at men in the workplace with less than or equal to 2 years of college education. After unsatisfactory interest from men and businesses alike, recruitment strategy shifted to enroll men outside the workplace with any educational background. Recruitment methods included word of mouth, email and website advertisements, printed posters in local businesses and doctors’ offices, Facebook ads, and a 1-week newspaper ad campaign. Initial interest and enrollment was negligible with only 35 men enrolled in the first 7 months. The launch of a 1-week newspaper advertisement was the most useful recruitment technique and 102 overweight/obese men were successfully enrolled. Study retention remained high throughout the Gutbusters program, indicating targeted, effective recruitment, and not weight loss interest, may be the largest barrier to trial participation for overweight and obese men.

• behavioral issues
• behavioral research
• general health and wellness
• men’s health interventions
• nutrition
• obesity
• research

• Lipotrim
• community pharmacy
• very low calorie diet
• weight management

• intervention
• male
• meta-analysis
• physical activity
• randomised controlled trial

Healthy lifestyle programs that are designed specifically to appeal to and support men to improve lifestyle behaviors and lose weight are needed. The Rugby Fans in Training-New Zealand (RUFIT-NZ) program is delivered by professional rugby clubs and inspired by the successful Football Fans In Training program (FFIT), a gender sensitized weight loss program for obese middle-aged men delivered by professional football clubs in Scotland. RUFIT-NZ required development and evaluation for feasibility.

To develop the intervention we reviewed content from the FFIT program and evidence-based physical activity, dietary and weight management guidelines, and undertook a series of focus groups and key informant interviews. We then evaluated the feasibility of the intervention in a two-arm, parallel, pilot randomized controlled trial in New Zealand. Ninety-six participants were randomized to either the 12-week RUFIT-NZ intervention (N = 49) or a control group (N = 47). The intervention was delivered through professional rugby clubs and involved physical activity training and classroom sessions on healthy lifestyle behaviors. Pilot trial outcomes included body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and lifestyle behaviors. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and retention rates, and acceptability of the intervention.

At 12 weeks the mean difference in body weight was 2.5 kg (95% CI -0.4 to 5.4), which favored the intervention. Statistically significant differences in favor of the intervention group were also observed for waist circumference, resting heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and the proportion of participants that were adherent to 3 or more healthy lifestyle behaviors. The intervention was considered feasible to test in a full trial given the good recruitment and retention rates, and positive feedback from participants.

A pilot study of a healthy lifestyle intervention delivered via professional rugby clubs in New Zealand demonstrated positive effects on weight and physiological outcomes, as well as adherence to lifestyle behaviors. Feasibility issues in terms of recruitment, retention, and participant acceptability were assessed and findings will be used to inform the design of a definitive trial.

The trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000137493, 05/12/2016.

• Diet
• Lifestyle intervention
• Men’s health
• Obesity
• Physical activity
• Professional sports clubs
• Weight management

•

Crowdsourcing can be used to detect unexpected barriers to male weight loss.

Men of low socioeconomic position (SEP) are less likely than those of higher SEP to consume fruits and vegetables, and more likely to eat processed discretionary foods. Education level is a widely used marker of SEP. Few studies have explored determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in men’s eating behaviours. The present study aimed to explore intrapersonal, social and environmental factors potentially contributing to educational inequalities in men’s eating behaviour.

Thirty Australian men aged 18–60 years (15 each with tertiary or non-tertiary education) from two large metropolitan sites (Melbourne, Victoria; and Newcastle, New South Wales) participated in qualitative, semi-structured, one-on-one telephone interviews about their perceptions of influences on their and other men’s eating behaviours. The social ecological model informed interview question development, and data were examined using abductive thematic analysis.

Themes equally salient across tertiary and non-tertiary educated groups included attitudes about masculinity; nutrition knowledge and awareness; ‘moralising’ consumption of certain foods; the influence of children on eating; availability of healthy foods; convenience; and the interplay between cost, convenience, taste and healthfulness when choosing foods. More prominent influences among tertiary educated men included using advanced cooking skills but having relatively infrequent involvement in other food-related tasks; the influence of partner/spouse support on eating; access to healthy food; and cost. More predominant influences among non-tertiary educated men included having fewer cooking skills but frequent involvement in food-related tasks; identifying that ‘no-one’ influenced their diet; having mobile worksites; and adhering to food budgets.

This study identified key similarities and differences in perceived influences on eating behaviours among men with lower and higher education levels. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which such influences explain socioeconomic variations in men’s dietary intakes, and to identify feasible strategies that might support healthy eating among men in different socioeconomic groups.

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-6162-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

• Eating behaviours
• Men
• Nutrition
• Socioeconomic inequalities

• healthy eating
• masculinity
• men’s health
• physical activity
• qualitative

• Diet, Healthy
• Health Promotion/methods
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Humans
• Interviews as Topic
• Male
• Men/psychology
• Middle Aged
• Social Support

• Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute

• Behavioral lifestyle intervention
• Cardiometabolic
• Latino
• Primary care
• Technology
• Weight loss

• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Audiovisual Aids
• Body Mass Index
• Chronic Disease/epidemiology
• Chronic Disease/prevention & control
• Chronic Disease/psychology
• Culturally Competent Care/methods
• Exercise/physiology
• Exercise/psychology
• Hispanic or Latino/psychology
• Life Style/ethnology
• Obesity/diagnosis
• Obesity/ethnology
• Obesity/psychology
• Obesity/therapy
• Overweight/diagnosis
• Overweight/ethnology
• Overweight/psychology
• Overweight/therapy
• Quality of Life
• Risk Reduction Behavior
• Telemedicine/methods
• Weight Loss
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

• R01 HS022702 AHRQ HHS

• Lifestyle intervention
• Male
• Obesity
• Overweight
• Rural health
• Text messaging
• Weight loss
• Young adult

• behavior change
• depression
• gender-sensitive
• male
• obesity
• weight loss

• diet
• exercise
• health behavior
• men’s health
• physical activity
• weight loss

To investigate changes in dietary intake following a 6-mo randomised controlled trial of the self-directed, gender-tailored type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) Prevention Using LifeStyle Education (PULSE) program in men.

Men aged 18-65 years, with a body mass index (BMI) 25-40 kg/m², and at high risk for developing T2DM were recruited from the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. Eligible participants were randomised into one of two groups: (1) waitlist control; or (2) PULSE intervention. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and immediately post-program using the Australian Eating Survey food frequency questionnaire and diet quality measured using the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS).

One hundred and one participants (n = 48, control; n = 53, intervention, mean age 52.3 ± 9.7 years, BMI of 32.6 ± 3.3 kg/m²) commenced the study. Following the active phase, differences between groups were observed for proportion of total energy consumed from healthful (core) foods (+7.6%EI, P < 0.001), energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods (-7.6%EI, P < 0.001), sodium (-369 mg, P = 0.047), and diet quality (ARFS) (+4.3, P = 0.004), including sub-scales for fruit (+1.1, P = 0.03), meat (+0.9, P = 0.004) and non-meat protein (+0.5, P = 0.03).

The PULSE prevention program’s nutrition messages led to significant improvements in dietary intake in men at risk of T2DM.

• Dietary intake
• Diet quality
• Men
• Diabetes prevention program
• Self-directed

• Web-based intervention
• diabetes mellitus, type 2
• feasibility studies
• men
• men's health
• pilot RCT
• pilot projects
• process evaluation
• randomized controlled trial
• type 2 diabetes
• weight loss

• MR/K02325X/1 Medical Research Council
• NIHR-RP-02-12-001 Department of Health

• general health and wellness
• nutrition
• physical activity
• young men

Men are generally thought to be less inclined to take care of their health. To date, most studies about men’s health have focused on deficits in self-care and difficulties in dealing with this sphere of their life. The present study reframes this perspective, using a salutogenic strengths-based approach and seeking to identify variables that influence men to take care of their health, rather than neglect it. This study focuses on the association between peer positive social control and men’s health behaviors, while controlling for other important individual and social determinants (sociodemographic characteristics, health self-efficacy, home neighborhood, spousal positive social control, and the restrictive emotionality norm). In a mixed-method study, 669 men answered a self-reported questionnaire, and interviews were conducted with a maximum variation sample of 31 men. Quantitative results indicated that, even after controlling for sociodemographic variables and other important factors, peer positive social control was significantly associated with the six health behaviors measured in the study (health responsibility, nutrition, physical activity, interpersonal relations, stress management, and spirituality). Interview results revealed that peer positive social control influenced men’s health behaviors through three different mechanisms: shared activity, being inspired, and serving as a positive role model for others. In summary, friends and coworkers could play a significant role in promoting various health behaviors among adult men in their daily life. Encouraging men to socialize and discuss health, and capitalizing on healthy men as role models appear to be effective ways to influence health behavior adoption among this specific population.

• exercise nutrition
• health promotion and disease prevention
• male friendships
• men’s studies

Background: Men are underrepresented in weight loss and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevention studies. Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of recruitment, and acceptability of the T2DM Prevention Using LifeStyle Education (PULSE) Program—a gender-targeted, self-administered intervention for men. Methods: Men (18–65 years, high risk for T2DM) were randomized to intervention (n = 53) or wait-list control groups (n = 48). The 6-month PULSE Program intervention focused on weight loss, diet, and exercise for T2DM prevention. A process evaluation questionnaire was administered at 6 months to examine recruitment and selection processes, and acceptability of the intervention’s delivery and content. Associations between self-monitoring and selected outcomes were assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: A pragmatic recruitment and online screening process was effective in identifying men at high risk of T2DM (prediabetes prevalence 70%). Men reported the trial was appealing because it targeted weight loss, T2DM prevention, and getting fit, and because it was perceived as “doable” and tailored for men. The intervention was considered acceptable, with men reporting high overall satisfaction (83%) and engagement with the various components. Adherence to self-monitoring was poor, with only 13% meeting requisite criteria. However, significant associations were observed between weekly self-monitoring of weight and change in weight (r_s = −.47, p = .004) and waist circumference (r_s = −.38, p = .026). Men reported they would have preferred more intervention contact, for example, by phone or email. Conclusions: Gender-targeted, self-administered lifestyle interventions are feasible, appealing, and satisfying for men. Future studies should explore the effects of additional non-face-to-face contact on motivation, accountability, self-monitoring adherence, and program efficacy.

• diabetes
• diet
• physical activity
• prevention
• process evaluation

• exercise
• nutrition
• public health
• young men

• Adult
• Attitude to Health
• Australia
• Body Mass Index
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diet/statistics & numerical data
• Exercise
• Feeding Behavior
• Health Behavior
• Humans
• Life Style
• Male
• Motivation
• Obesity/prevention & control
• Young Adult

In young men, unhealthy lifestyle behaviours can be detrimental to their physical and/or mental health and set them on a negative health trajectory into adulthood. Despite this, there is a lack of evidence to guide development of effective health behaviour change interventions for young men. This study assessed the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the ‘HEYMAN’ (Harnessing Ehealth to enhance Young men’s Mental health, Activity and Nutrition) healthy lifestyle program for young men.

A pilot RCT with 50 young men aged 18–25 years randomised to the HEYMAN intervention (n = 26) or waitlist control (n = 24). HEYMAN was a 3-month intervention, targeted for young men to improve eating habits, activity levels and well-being. Intervention development was informed by a participatory research model (PRECEDE-PROCEED). Intervention components included eHealth support (website, wearable device, Facebook support group), face-to-face sessions (group and individual), a personalised food and nutrient report, home-based resistance training equipment and a portion control tool. Outcomes included: feasibility of research procedures (recruitment, randomisation, data collection and retention) and of intervention components. Generalized linear mixed models estimated the treatment effect at 3-months for the primary outcomes: pedometer steps/day, diet quality, well-being and several secondary outcomes.

A 7-week recruitment period was required to enrol 50 young men. A retention rate of 94% was achieved at 3-months post-intervention. Retained intervention participants (n = 24) demonstrated reasonable usage levels for most program components and also reported reasonable levels of program component acceptability for attractiveness, comprehension, usability, support, satisfaction and ability to persuade, with scores ranging from 3.0 to 4.6 (maximum 5). No significant intervention effects were observed for the primary outcomes of steps/day (1012.7, 95% CI = −506.2, 2531.6, p = 0.191, d = 0.36), diet quality score (3.6, 95% CI = −0.4, 7.6, p = 0.081, d = 0.48) or total well-being score (0.4, 95% CI = −1.6, 2.5, p = 0.683, d = 0.11). Significant intervention effects were found for daily vegetable servings, energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, MVPA, weight, BMI, fat mass, waist circumference and cholesterol (all p < 0.05).

The HEYMAN program demonstrated feasibility in assisting young men to make some positive lifestyle changes. This provides support for the conduct of a larger, fully-powered RCT, but with minor amendments to research procedures and intervention components required.

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000350426.

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12937-017-0227-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

• Behavioural health
• Diet
• Intervention
• Mental health
• Physical activity
• Process evaluation
• Young men

• Adult
• Diet, Reducing
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Obesity/therapy
• Physical Fitness
• Risk Reduction Behavior
• Weight Loss
• Weight Reduction Programs/methods
• Young Adult

• Men’s health
• Obesity
• Overweight
• Positive mental health