Following up Fighting Fit: the long-term impact of health practitioner input on obesity and BMI amongst adults with intellectual disabilities

Authors:
CHAPMAN Melanie J., CRAVEN Michael J., CHADWICK Darren D.
Journal article citation:
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 12(4), December 2008, pp.309-323.
Publisher:
Sage
Place of publication:
London

This article presents findings on the long-term impact of health practitioner input to reduce obesity amongst adults with intellectual disabilities. Body mass index (BMI) was measured for an input group (N = 33) and a comparison group (N = 40) 6 years after the input group first received input. Data on BMI were collected at baseline, 6 months, 1 year and 6 years. Mean BMI for the input group reduced steadily over 6 years. Mean BMI in the non-input group rose initially, stabilized and then decreased (although remaining higher than at baseline). The input group demonstrated improvements in obesity levels and lost more weight than the non-input group. However, the differences between groups did not reach statistical significance. This and the improvements in BMI within the non-input group may be due to the relatively small sample size, effect size and the impact of other local initiatives.

Subject terms:
intervention, learning disabilities, obesity, health education;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
United Kingdom
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1744-6309
ISSN print:
1744-6295

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