Ekstra FAN was launched in 2015 as a collaborative project between Stadion Energa Gdańsk, Gdańsk Health Promotion Centre, and local sports clubs such as Lechia Gdańsk and Trefl Gdańsk. Inspired by the British programme Football Fans in Training, the initiative targets adults aged 35 to 60 years with high BMI indexes, aiming to reduce health inequalities through structured lifestyle change.

The project runs in seasonal cycles of 12 weeks, where selected participants—based on BMI and medical qualification—take part in twice-weekly training sessions complemented by educational workshops on nutrition, physical activity, and health psychology. A key innovation of Ekstra FAN is its use of the emotional connection between fans and their club to foster sustained engagement and reduce dropout rates. Sessions are held in the stadium or local sport facilities.

In addition to training, participants receive professional health assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of the programme, including follow-up checks after several months to assess long-term impact. A refundable deposit is required to encourage commitment.

Ekstra FAN is available in both male and female editions (Ekstra FAN Ladies), with strong support from local institutions and sports organisations. The project has demonstrated measurable outcomes, with average participant weight loss exceeding 6 kg per cycle. It also builds social bonds and increases participants’ sense of self-efficacy and wellbeing.

The initiative is scalable and has been proposed as a model for local governments and sport clubs to integrate public health promotion into their community outreach activities. Ekstra FAN exemplifies the use of sports identity to engage otherwise excluded or hard-to-reach groups. The project has ended in 2021 mainly due to pandemic.