Project renourish: A dietary intervention to improve nutritional status in people with multiple disabilities

Abstract

An in tervention was designed to improve the nutrition of underweight persons with multiple disabi fities who tived in a large institution. They were given an enriched diet, with increased energy density, for a year. Measurements of anthropometric status, biochemical status and cfinical measures such as antibiotic and suppository usage, were taken before the intervention, at 6 months, and at t 2 months. Basefine measures of the 6 9 subjects showed that they were severely underweight, and had levels of vitamin [9, folate, haemoglobin, and ferritin which were all either low or borderline. Thirty-two individuals had vitamin D levels below the normal range. After 12 months on the diet there were significant improvements in weight, in serum calcium and serum vitamin D levels, and in haematological status. Rates of intercurrent infections were significantly less than in the same season of the previous year. Constipation had signiflcantly diminished. Itwas concluded that dietarytreatment is worth tryingfor similar groups, although it is not possible to claim that dietary trea tm ent was the sole cause of these changes.Persons with severe intellectual disability and multiple disabilities are among the most needy of the disabled population. They require support for all the acts of daily living, and often must be fed by others. Their qualiw of life is dependent on being well nourished. However there is evidence that their nutrition is often inadequate.1Address forcorrespondence: J Intellect Dev Dis Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Auckland on 12/12/14For personal use only.

Underweight, obesity and exercise among adults with intellectual disabilities in supported accommodation in Northern England

“…The results of the study are broadly consistent with previous research that has suggested that people with ID are at increased risk of being underweight, obese and leading sedentary lives (Beange et al. 1995a,b; Kennedy et al.…”

“…(2000) reported prevalence rates of underweight of 22% of men and 22% of women among a sample of 500 adults with ID in various forms of supported accommodation in the UK (compared with 3% of men and 6% of women in the general population: National Centre for Social Research 2002). Beange et al. (1995a) identified 63% of an institutionalized sample of 131 adults with profound multiple disabilities as being underweight.…”

Weight, nutrition, food choice, and physical activity in adults with intellectual disability

“…In people with ID, undernourishment, rather than over‐nutrition, traditionally has been a problem (Beange et al . ), but it may be that people with ID are displaying the same patterns as the general population: that is, tending to being over‐nourished (Tanumihardjo et al . ).…”

The Impact of Medical Conditions on the Support of Children with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities

“…Almost all have physical difficulties with food ingestion; a substantial percentage needs gastrointestinal feeding tubes. Difficulties with feeding may lead to dehydration and malnourishment (Beange et al 1995). Sleep disorders are also widespread among people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.…”