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The Learning Disabilities Elf

Success of obesity interventions in people with learning disabilities needs primary carer involvement

John Northfield

Obesity is a major health concern in adults with learning disabilities. This study set out to evaluate the impact of a locally delivered NHS health promotion programme.

191 adults with learning disabilities took part in the evaluation and were screened and monitored over a 2-year period with attendance rates and body mass index (BMI) used a outcome measures.

The researchers found 69% were overweight/obese/morbidly obese at the beginning of the programme. 21% of the sample failed to attend at year 1 and 34% failed to attend at year 2.

Measurements of BMI showed 52% of the ‘at risk’ BMI category remaining static, 26.7% had a worsening weight status and 20.7% showed improvements in weight status.

The authors discuss both the possibilities and also the main difficulties in working on a health promotion model within the NHS. They suggest specifically that long-term obesity-specific interventions need to incorporate primary carers if they are to be successful in the future.

Longitudinal Follow-up of Weight Change in the Context of a Community-Based Health Promotion Programme for Adults with an Intellectual Disability, Thomas, G & Kerr, M, in Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 24: 381–387

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Written by

After qualifying as a social worker, John worked in community learning disability teams before getting involved in a number of long-stay hospital closure programmes, working to develop individual plans for people moving into their own homes. He worked for BILD, helping to develop the Quality Network and was editorial lead for the NHS electronic library learning disabilities specialist collection. This led him to found the Learning Disabilities Elf site with Andre Tomlin as a way of making the evidence accessible to practitioners in health and social care. Most recently he has worked as part of Mencap's national quality team and also been involved in a number of national website developments, including the General Medical Council's learning disabilities site.

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  • eileen duncan

    eileen duncan

    14 years ago
    Thanks for this John - will get in touch with colleagues in Manchester - Eileen
  • eileen duncan

    eileen duncan

    14 years ago
    Very interested in this study as currently developing health promotion training day that will be targetted at support staff working with people with a learning disability regarding increasing physical activity. This will also touch on healthy eating and general well being . Any tips or advice are welcome.
    • 1 reply
    • John Northfield
      John Northfield 14 years ago
      A couple of years ago, we presented a literature review on the NHS learning disabilities colelction site, carried out by Michael Craven in manchester in support of their fighting fit campaign. It might be worth contacting him or the research lead there, Melanie Chapman for some good ideas. I am sure that there will be other blog readers who are involved in supporting people with increasing their physical activity and levels of fitness who will have ideas to share, john.