​Background

Men have a higher risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases than women. As documented in the National Health Profile (2021), men smoke, drink, and consume unhealthy diets more frequently than women. At the same time, men—especially those with low socioeconomic status who are at elevated risk of type 2 diabetes—are difficult to recruit into traditional health services offered by local communities or general practitioners.

Evidence shows that professional football clubs can successfully engage and retain men at high risk of cardiometabolic disease in health programmes. Their branding, communication platforms, and club environments provide trusted, familiar spaces for men. However, Danish professional football clubs have not yet been systematically involved in delivering or implementing men's health initiatives.

​Aim

The long-term purpose of the Men's Health Program is to prevent the development of cardiometabolic diseases and strengthen physical, mental, and social health among men at high risk of type 2 diabetes—particularly those disengaged from traditional health services.

The specific aims are to:

• Build capacity and ownership among professional football clubs and local communities to promote men's health and well-being.
• Develop and implement health-promoting activities for men using a systems-oriented, co-creative approach with both target groups and local stakeholders.
• Test whether the program improves men's physical, mental, and social health (individual level) and whether it enhances local capacity to mobilize, implement, and sustain health promotion initiatives (system level).
  

Design

The program is developed using a systems-oriented co-creation approach in three phases, conducted in parallel in two Danish local communities in collaboration with AGF (Aarhus) and HB Køge (Køge).