What is Man v Fat?

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: Yura Forrat

An exercise and weight loss activity for obese men that started in the United Kingdom, the Man v Fat soccer league, has spread to the United States. I learned about this in The New York Times but the article is behind a paywall. Here’s an article from The BBC and here’s a feature from the Man v Fat website about a man who lost lots of weight playing soccer.

Why am I writing about weight loss on a blog devoted to noise issues? Because the idea of making a healthy activity also a fun and social activity solves two major health problems in the U.S.: lack of exercise and social isolation.

I wondered if there’s any way to make seeking quiet a fun and social activity. Pickleball is fun, providing both exercise and social connections, but it’s noisy for players and neighbors.

Perhaps there already is a way to combine fun, quiet and social connections. Without anthropogenic noise, nature is quiet. Bird walks sponsored by local chapters of the Audubon Society or other organizations are available for free or for a nominal charge in many parts of the country, as are hikes sponsored by the Sierra Club and similar organizations. In Japan, doctors can actually prescribe forest bathing, and tourists are flocking to the forest for relaxation.

If anyone has any ideas about how the Man v Fat concept can be extended to noise and quiet, please let me know at DJFink@quietcommunities.org. A quieter world will be a better and healthier world for all.