Background and Context: Obesity is a major public health concern both in Ireland and internationally.
Aim of the study: This study aimed to examine the effects of a 16-week education and support programme with a group of service users with an intellectual disability who were identified through their G.P. clinic as a high risk group of people i.e. morbidly obese.
Methodology: The staff in the organisation designed and implemented a programme and called it “The Healthy Lifestyle Programme”. Each participant on the programme lived within a residential setting and had a body mass index ≥ 30 (kg/m²). Twelve people were referred onto the programme from their G.P. clinic. Mixed methods were used to examine the programme. All ethical considerations were considered.
Analysis: Six people completed “The Healthy Lifestyle Programme”. Weight, body mass index and exit interviews were the three measurements utilised to evaluate the programme. In order to address implementation factors for the programme the researcher conducted exit interviews with the key implementers.
Summary of key findings: Analysis of the pre and post variables and related t-tests indicated that there was a significant difference between the pre and post weight of participants on “The Healthy Lifestyle Programme”. There was also a significant difference between the pre and post body mass index of participants on the same programme, highlighting the success of the programme and the need for health promotion interventions for people with intellectual disabilities. The exit interviews showed that the education of carers is imperative for successful weight management in adults with intellectual disabilities.
Conclusions and implications: To conclude, obesity is more prevalent in adults with intellectual disabilities than in the general population and there is a need to implement and examine health promotion interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities.