Comparing the effectiveness of a multi-component weight loss intervention in adults with and without intellectual disabilities

<p>Background: The prevalence of obesity in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) is rising, although the evidence base for its treatment in this population group is minimal. Weight management interventions that are accessible to adults with ID will reduce the inequalities that they frequently experience in health services. This short report compared the effectiveness of weight management in those with and without ID who completed nine sessions of a multi-component weight management programme.</p> <p>Methods: TAKE 5 is a 16-week multi-component weight management intervention for adults with ID and obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg m–2]. This intervention is an adaption of the weight management programme provided by the Glasgow & Clyde Weight Management Service (GCWMS) for adults without ID and obesity (National Health Service based). Fifty-two participants of the TAKE 5 programme were individually matched by baseline characteristics (sex, age and BMI) with two participants without ID of the GCWMS programme. Comparisons in terms of weight and BMI change and rate of weight loss were made for those who attended all nine sessions.</p> <p>Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in the amount of weight loss (median: −3.6 versus −3.8 kg, respectively, P = 0.4), change in BMI (median: −1.5 versus −1.4 kg m–2, P = 0.9), success of achieving 5% weight loss (41.3% versus 36.8%, P = 0.9) and rate of weight loss across the 16-week intervention.</p> <p>Conclusions: A multi-component weight loss intervention can be equally effective for adults with and without ID and obesity.</p&gt

Weight management interventions in adults with intellectual disabilities and obesity: a systematic review of the evidence

o evaluate the clinical effectiveness of weight management interventions in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and obesity using recommendations from current clinical guidelines for the first line management of obesity in adults. Full papers on lifestyle modification interventions published between 1982 to 2011 were sought by searching the Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases. Studies were evaluated based on 1) intervention components, 2) methodology, 3) attrition rate 4) reported weight loss and 5) duration of follow up. Twenty two studies met the inclusion criteria. The interventions were classified according to inclusion of the following components: behaviour change alone, behaviour change plus physical activity, dietary advice or physical activity alone, dietary plus physical activity advice and multi-component (all three components). The majority of the studies had the same methodological limitations: no sample size justification, small heterogeneous samples, no information on randomisation methodologies. Eight studies were classified as multi-component interventions, of which one study used a 600 kilocalorie (2510 kilojoule) daily energy deficit diet. Study durations were mostly below the duration recommended in clinical guidelines and varied widely. No study included an exercise program promoting 225–300 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity per week but the majority of the studies used the same behaviour change techniques. Three studies reported clinically significant weight loss (≥ 5%) at six months post intervention. Current data indicate weight management interventions in those with ID differ from recommended practice and further studies to examine the effectiveness of multi-component weight management interventions for adults with ID and obesity are justified