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Physical Activity, Exercise and Health of Adults with Mild and Moderate Learning Disabilities
Author(s) -
Messent Peter R.,
Cooke Carlton B.,
Long Jonathon
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1998.tb00041.x
Subject(s) - cardiorespiratory fitness , overweight , obesity , population , physical activity , medicine , gerontology , physical therapy , learning disability , physical fitness , staffing , intervention (counseling) , psychology , demography , environmental health , psychiatry , nursing , sociology
The aim of the study was to evaluate the cardiorespiratory fitness, levels of obesity, daily levels of physical activity and barriers to a physically active lifestyle in a group of 24 adults with mild and moderate learning disabilities (aged 23–47 years, mean age 34). The efficacy of two community‐based exercise intervention programmes for the group was also evaluated. The results showed that overall 50% of the men and 70% of the women were overweight, of whom 57% of the men and 100% of the women were obese. Mean cardiorespiratory fitness levels were 20% to 28% lower for the men and 42% lower for the women compared with average values for the general population. Physical activity profiles indicated that 22 of the participants were below recognised minimum levels of physical activity. Barriers to physical activity specific to the learning disability population included transport needs, staffing ratios, financial resources and unclear policy guidelines for day and residential service provision.