Ipswich man loses over 8 stone playing football weekly

Rino Scalco, 48, has been part of the Ipswich Man v Fat North club for around 18 months and in that time has seen his weight fall from 20st 10lbs to 12st 3lbs. 

Rino Scalco at 20 st 10 lb before his weight loss (Image: MAN v FAT) The 48-year-old said: “I played a lot of football as a youngster, and really missed it.

“I had struggled with weight for most of my adult life and never really thought I’d be able to play again.

"Then I saw an advert for MAN v FAT and thought it might be a great way for me to try and lose weight and kick a ball around again."

Rino Scalco at 12st 3lb, after his weight loss journey (Image: MAN v FAT) According to Public Health England (PHA) data published in April of 2023 revealed that around 67% of adults in Suffolk are overweight or obese.

In the last year, the North Ipswich Man V Fat club helped players loose nearly 500 pounds of excess fat by encouraging men to get fitter and adopt healthy lifestyle choices. 

During sessions, players are weighed, before battling it out on the pitch where the results from matches combine with a player’s individual weight loss throughout a week, to contribute to an overall league table.

“I’ve been able to join the gym, run and I walk most places now,"  Mr Scalco said.

The club lost almost 500 pounds of excess fat across the whole team (Image: MAN v FAT Football club) "I make much better food choices because I’ve always got one eye on the Friday night weigh-in. I think less about restricting what I’m eating and more about making healthy choices.

"It’s non-judgmental, fun, competitive and really supportive. Everybody’s in the same boat, trying to get a little bit healthier than the week before.

“It’s way more competitive than I thought it would be, which is great because it makes you want to do better each week."