Supporting the Blues is good for you
IT'S official: supporting the Blues is good for your health.New research has revealed that an average Ipswich Town fan burns more than 1,000 calories per game - the equivalent of two Big Macs, eight cans of beer or 220 grams of chocolate.
IT'S official: supporting the Blues is good for your health.
New research has revealed that an average Ipswich Town fan burns more than 1,000 calories per game - the equivalent of two Big Macs, eight cans of beer or 220 grams of chocolate.
The findings also show that the excitement of a game at Portman Road uses up the same number of calories as three hours of sex or a 40-minute run.
An Ipswich fan cheering on Jim Magilton's side home and away will burn 49,467 calories a season, 5,216 of which celebrating every time the ball hits the back of the net.
The research flies in the face of the typical image of a beer-swilling, pot-bellied fan, but leading sports nutritionist, Dr Adam Carey - who has advised a number of football clubs - said watching Ipswich could be an ideal way to get into shape.
“Exercise is always more effective if you enjoy it,” he said.
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“Actively supporting your team is a great way to burn calories.
“As long as you avoid overdoing it on pies and beer, all fans should happily come out of the ground slimmer.”
The survey, published by 118Footie.com, reckons that the “jumping, dancing, yelling and air punching” that goes into celebrating a goal burns off 81.5 calories, while even “stamping, moaning and shouting at the ref” takes up 61 calories.
Watching Town is marginally more healthy than a trip to the terraces at Carrow Road, where Norwich City supporters burnt 49,175 calories last season.
Manchester United fans, who celebrated winning the Premiership last season, shed the highest number of calories - 1,144 per game.
The 1,075 calories used as Portman Road is well above the national average of 934, and makes up around half the daily recommended intake for an adult.
And there is more good news for armchair fans, who burn 688 calories per game.
William Ostrom, from 118118, said: “We knew the passion of football fans might work up a sweat, but we were amazed at these findings.”
Are you surprised at the results? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
The Numbers Game:
49,467 - calories burnt watching Ipswich
1,075 - calories burnt per game
81 - calories burnt celebrating a goal
60 - calories commiserating an opposition goal
Did you know?
The average professional footballer will burn between 1,000 and 1,500 calories during a game.
