Football is the world's most popular sport, captivating the hearts and minds of millions of people every day. Supporting our national team or local club evokes a deep sense of pride, and provides a consistent source of entertainment. How could something so addictive be so good for you? Football has been found to be an effective adjunct for the treatment and prevention of a wide variety of conditions such as depression, some cancers and type 2 diabetes. In this podcast, Dr Daniel Parnell explains to Dr Sean Carmody the emerging research behind the broad spectrum health benefits attached to participating in football.

Dr Daniel Parnell is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Business at the University of Liverpool and co-author of Football as Medicine: Prescribing Football for Global Health Promotion.

Dr Sean Carmody is a doctor based in London.