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Longitudinal Follow‐up of Weight Change in the Context of a Community‐Based Health Promotion Programme for Adults with an Intellectual Disability
Author(s) -
Thomas G. R.,
Kerr M. P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2010.00611.x
Subject(s) - attendance , overweight , medicine , body mass index , context (archaeology) , obesity , health promotion , intellectual disability , gerontology , psychological intervention , family medicine , physical therapy , public health , nursing , psychiatry , paleontology , pathology , economics , biology , economic growth
Background Obesity has been identified as a major health concern in adults with intellectual disabilities. This study evaluates a health promotion programme delivered by a NHS department for adults with intellectual disabilities. Method Routine NHS data were collated and analysed descriptively. One hundred and ninety one adults with intellectual disabilities were screened and monitored over a 2‐year period, with a sequence of health and fitness tests. Attendance rates and body mass index (BMI) were the principal outcome measures for this evaluation. Results 69% of the samples were overweight/obese/morbidly obese at the beginning of the programme. Despite attendance at intermediate follow‐up clinics, 21% of the sample failed to attend at year 1 and 34% failed to attend at year 2 clinics. In terms of BMI changes at year one, 52% of the at risk BMI category remained static, 26.7% showed a worsening weight status and 20.7% showed an improving weight status. At year 2, 52.1% of the at risk BMI category remained static, while 22% got worse and 25% showed an improvement in weight status. Conclusions This study illustrates the possibilities and difficulties of devising an effective health promotion model within the NHS framework. For long‐term obesity‐specific interventions to be successful, further research is needed into multi‐disciplinary programmes which incorporate the primary carers and are responsive to NICE guidelines.