Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) are working with Midlife Fitness Coaching (MFC) to explore the experiences of women taking part in Midlife Fitness Foundations and to assess the physiological and behavioural impact of the programme. If you sign up for the 8-week, online Midlife Fitness Foundations programme in April 2026, you will be invited to participate in this research.

This study has been funded by the South Yorkshire Innovation Programme. The study has been designed to gather insights that will help MFC evidence the impact of the products and services they offer. Midlife Fitness Coaching has made a small contribution to the cost of the study.

Do I have to take part?

No, it is entirely up to you to decide whether to take part. If you decide you want to take part, you will need to give consent and sign a consent form. You can decide to withdraw at any time during the study without a reason, or you can decide not to answer a particular question or complete a particular measure. 

What’s involved?

You will be asked to visit the AWRC in Sheffield, Attercliffe on two separate occasions; once before you start the programme (baseline) and again after you complete the 8-week programme (post-intervention). Each visit will last approximately 1 hour. You will have the study explained to you verbally at the start of visit 1 and be given the opportunity to ask questions before signing an informed consent form. You will then be asked to complete a number of questionnaires and physical measurements will be taken, including:

• Blood pressure and resting heart rate
• Height
• Body mass and body composition in the BodPod
• Leg strength
• Hand grip
• Balance

Visit 2 will be similar to visit 1. You will also be asked whether you are willing to take part in a brief interview (<30 minutes) about your experience of taking part in the Midlife Fitness Foundations programme. Data security and sharing plans will be explained to you before you decide whether to take part in the research.

Why should I take part?

If you choose to take part you will receive detailed information about your body composition, strength, blood pressure and physical activity levels and any changes in these parameters after the 8-week MFC programme. This combination of tests, conducted in a laboratory setting by an expert researcher, would usually cost several hundred pounds.

What should I do if I am interested?

Go ahead and sign up for Midlife Fitness Foundations, you will be sent more information shortly after you have signed up.

Is there anything else I should know?

We can only offer the research opportunity to a maximum of 6 clients and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Clients will have to be prepared to travel to The AWRC in Sheffield for both visits. Researchers will try to offer convenient appointments, but this will be constrained by available lab time.

Dr Anna Myers is leading this research project.