Effecting healthy lifestyle changes in overweight and obese young adults with intellectual disability

Am J Intellect Dev Disabil. 2013 May;118(3):224-43. doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-118.3.224.

Abstract

We evaluated a 12-week recreation center-based healthy lifestyle intervention for 30 obese home-dwelling young adults (YA) with intellectual disabilities. Three cohorts participated: YA only, YA and parents, and parents only. The YA cohorts received a nutrition/exercise intervention; parents focused on modeling healthy lifestyle behaviors. Outcomes included YA blood, nutrition, anthropometric, and fitness measures at pre, post, and 3-month follow-up. Compared with wait-list controls, the YA-only cohort improved immediately postintervention in blood pressure (BP), weight, and balance (p < .05). At 3-month follow-up, no intervention was consistently superior; overall reductions in weight, BP, hip circumference, and exercise barriers were obtained (p < .05). Linear and curvilinear changes from baseline to 3 months after the intervention varied by outcome and participant. Participants with Down syndrome lost less weight.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cohort Studies
  • Exercise
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Life Style*
  • Male
  • Obesity / psychology
  • Obesity / therapy*
  • Overweight / psychology
  • Overweight / therapy*
  • Parents / education
  • Persons with Mental Disabilities / psychology*
  • Physical Endurance
  • Physical Fitness
  • Pilot Projects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Blood Glucose