Effects on Physical Health of a Multicomponent Programme for Overweight and Obesity for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

The treatment was effective in reducing overweight and obesity, improving cardiovascular capacity and therefore the physical health of the participants.

Weight management in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A randomized controlled trial of two dietary approaches

“…Results of this trial, and others in the literature, clearly indicate that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are capable of achieving clinically significant weight loss in response to multicomponent weight loss/maintenance interventions tailored to their cognitive abilities that includes an energy reduced diet, increased physical activity and behavioural strategies (Martinez‐Zaragoza et al., ; Melville et al., ; Saunders et al., ; Spanos, Melville, and Hankey ; Spanos et al., ). Interestingly, the magnitude of weight loss reported in this, and other trials in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, equals or exceeds that of the weight loss reported in trials conducted in the general population.…”

“…None of the trials described in the Spanos review included a long‐term (≥1 year) comprehensive weight maintenance programme as recommended by current clinical guidelines (Jensen et al., ). Publications subsequent to the Spanos review (Spanos, Melville, and Hankey ) have demonstrated the effectiveness of a 1‐year weight maintenance intervention in a small sample ( n = 28) of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who achieved ≥3% weight loss over 16 weeks (Spanos, Hankey, & Melville, ) and clinically significant weight loss (~8 kg) in a sample of 33 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities attending a community occupational therapy day centre, in response to a 17‐week intervention consisting of reduced energy intake, physical activity and a token economy motivational system (Martinez‐Zaragoza, Campillo‐Martinez, & Ato‐Garcia, ). Pett et al.…”

“…The majority of weight management trials in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have focused on compliance with healthy eating recommendations or energy reductions using a conventional meal plan diet (Bergstrom et al., ; Martinez‐Zaragoza et al., ; Pett et al., ; Spanos, Melville, and Hankey ). Conventional diets (CD) are effective in the general population (Jensen et al., ); however, understanding, planning and complying with a CD may be difficult in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and may, at least in part, be associated with the general lack of success of weight management interventions in this group.…”

A qualitative exploration of participants’ experiences of taking part in a walking programme: Perceived benefits, barriers, choices and use of intervention resources

“…Evidence suggests that adults with intellectual disabilities tend to have poorer health than the general population (Cocks, Thomson, Thoresen, Parsons, & Rosenwax, ; Cooper et al., ; Emerson, ; Martínez‐Zaragoza, Campillo‐Martínez, & Ato‐García, ). They also lead more sedentary and less physically active lifestyles (Bergstrom, Hagstromer, Hagberg, & Elinder, ; Dairo, Collett, Dawes, & Oskrochi, ; Finalyson, Turner, & Granat, ; Temple, ; Temple & Walkley, ) and have higher rates of obesity (Bhaumik, Watson, Thorp, Tyrer, & McGrother, ; Melville et al., , ).…”

Epicardial Fat Thickness in Non-Obese Neurologically Impaired Children: Association with Unfavorable Cardiometabolic Risk Profile

“…Most research has been conducted on subjects with psychiatric problems rather than on young neurologically disabled patients [1, 2, 21, 22]. On the basis of anecdotal observations, it is suspected that this population is at greater risk for MS and preclinical cardiovascular events.…”