With the World Cup on at the minute, I thought that i would share a study with you showing the effect of football (soccer) for fat loss.
Recreational soccer is an effective health-promoting activity for untrained men
Krustrup et al.
British Journal of Sports Medicine 2009;43:825-831
36 healthy untrained men were randomised into a soccer group, a running group and a control group.
Training was performed for 1 hour two or three times per week for 12 weeks; at an average heart rate of 82% of HRmax for both training groups.
During the 12 week program, the soccer group improved maximal oxygen uptake (a measure of aerobic fitness) 62% more than the running group. The soccer group also lost an average of 50% more fat than the running group (6lbs vs 4lbs)
The soccer group had an increase in lean body mass of 3.75lbs, an increase in lower
extremity bone mass, a greater decrease in LDL-cholesterol and an increase in fat oxidation
during running at 9.5 km/h. The running group saw none of these changes.
The number of capillaries per muscle fibre was also almost 50% higher in the soccer training group than in running. Both groups reduced blood pressure equally.
The researchers concluded that participation in recreational soccer training, has significant beneficial effects on health profile and physical capacity and in some aspects it is superior
to frequent moderate-intensity running.
Why Is This?
I think there are many reasons why football is an effective medium for fat loss.
First off i think it is because it is fun for the participants, it gives them something to think about instead of just running.
Second, it is interval training as you are sprinting, stopping, jogging and as we know intervals are far superior to steady state running for fat loss.
Thirdly, you will probably work harder during a game and want to go to the game, than you would if you had to go for a run.
Lastly there is a social aspect to a team sport, having to be there for the game gives the accountability factor of not letting your team mates down.
