UBC Okanagan and the Kelowna Rockets hockey club are teaming up to support men's health — they are looking for participants for a program aiming to do just that.
UBC Okanagan assistant professor Cristina Caperchione and the the Rockets will run HatTrick; an innovative 12-week program for men focused on physical activity, healthy eating and team work.
The program will start in January and take place at the home of the Rockets, Prospera Place in downtown Kelowna.
According to the university, HatTrick is a healthy lifestyle program to help local men increase physical activity, improve nutritional habits, and enhance their social connectedness.
Caperchione is now seeking recruits for the first session in January.
Each 90-minute weekly session will be led by healthy lifestyle experts from the research team, Kelowna Rockets staff such as the team's trainer and nutritionist and other community health professionals.
During the sessions, participants will have the opportunity to be physically active as well as learn simple tips for healthy eating and active living.
Participants do not need to know how to skate or play hockey, in fact no athletic ability is required.
HatTrick is designed for men who fit all of the following criteria:
• Live in the Okanagan
• Are 35 years of age or older
• Get less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week
• Have a pant waist size of 38 inches or more
• Have a Body Mass Index of more than over 25 kg/m2
The first session will run on Tuesdays from mid-January to early April. Additional groups will start in the spring and then again in the fall of 2017.
To learn more or sign up for the program, contact Paul Sharp at: paul.sharp@ubc.ca, call 250-807-9907 or visit www.hattrick.ok.ubc.ca
The HatTrick program is funded by the Canadian Cancer Society and is made up of a collaborative research team from UBC Okanagan, UBC Vancouver, Athabasca University and the University of Glasgow.