No abstract

Adolescents and young adults with disabilities experience several health inequalities and challenges in maintaining healthy lifestyles. As a group, individuals with disabilities experience higher rates of obesity compared to youth without disabilities. This study was designed to examine the types of challenges experienced by youth with disabilities and parents of youth with disabilities in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Strong evidence indicates that having a healthy lifestyle and preventing obesity are not only the result of an individual's behavior related to physical activity and consumption of healthy products but also several complex factors in the person's environment. This study was designed to understand the perceptions of youth with disabilities and their parents about the challenges they experience in engaging in physical activity and consuming healthy products, and ideas and strategies for promoting healthy lifestyles. Overall, youth with disabilities lack access to opportunities for engaging in physical activity as well as access to affordable foods. Implications for systems and policy changes are discussed.

Little research is available about youth with disabilities, who experience numerous inequalities in health outcomes compared with youth without disabilities. Youth with disabilities experience many environmental and attitudinal barriers in maintaining healthy lifestyles, which put them at risk for obesity. Strong evidence has suggested that obesity rates are higher among youth with disabilities than among their nondisabled peers. The purpose of this study was to implement and examine the benefits of a culturally tailored healthy lifestyles program for Latino youth with disabilities and their families. Several cultural adaptations were made to align with the target population's cultural norms. Seventeen Latino families identified 67 behaviors they wanted to change or new habits they wanted to establish. The postassessment data showed that several family routines improved, and families reported engaging in many of the healthy habits they had identified for themselves. Implications of culturally appropriate and accessible programming are discussed.

Walking is correlated with both improved physical and emotional health. However, walking behavior is often heavily influenced by environmental conditions. The goal of this study was to examine actual and perceived walkability safety and the relationship between perceived walkability safety and self-rated levels of walkability participation, defined as the number of places one walks within the community on a regular basis. Researchers used a mixed-methods approach, combining direct observations of traffic safety and in-person surveys within a specific Chicago neighborhood from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017, respectively. We conducted behavioral assessments on 25 intersections and 48 sidewalks and surveyed 96 pedestrians on perceived walkability safety and walkability participation. Findings showed 68% and 81% of vehicles in 2015 and 2016, respectively did not obey street signs, placing pedestrians at significant risk. Pedestrians expressed concerns about the safety of walking in their neighborhood yet walked to a median of eight places weekly. The results indicated a marginally significant positive relationship between self-reported community participation and walking habits, as well as relationships between various factors of perceived walkability and age, gender, or language of survey completion. It is clear from the results of this study that walkability in this community is not a safe activity. However, walking habits may also be influenced by community satisfaction and SES factors. Communities need to engage in safe driving campaigns and educate walkers on how to protect themselves from distracted drivers. Local governments should implement policy initiatives such as police enforcement and drivers’ education campaigns.

Little research is available about youth with disabilities, who experience numerous inequalities in health outcomes compared with youth without disabilities. Youth with disabilities experience many environmental and attitudinal barriers in maintaining healthy lifestyles, which put them at risk for obesity. Strong evidence has suggested that obesity rates are higher among youth with disabilities than among their nondisabled peers. The purpose of this study was to implement and examine the benefits of a culturally tailored healthy lifestyles program for Latino youth with disabilities and their families. Several cultural adaptations were made to align with the target population's cultural norms. Seventeen Latino families identified 67 behaviors they wanted to change or new habits they wanted to establish. The postassessment data showed that several family routines improved, and families reported engaging in many of the healthy habits they had identified for themselves. Implications of culturally appropriate and accessible programming are discussed.