Lifestyle and health behaviours of adults with an intellectual disability.

Researchers asked 157 Irish adults with intellectual disability about food, exercise, smoking, and weight.

They used a short survey. Staff helped when needed. The goal was to see how healthy this group is.

Two out of three adults were overweight or obese.

Most never smoked and drank little alcohol.

Almost all ate too few fruits and vegetables and rarely exercised.

Men and women scored the same. Living in a group home or with family made no difference.

Beaulieu et al. (2013) looked deeper at diet. They used a detailed scale and found the same poor eating plus low vitamins.

Rana et al. (2024) later pooled many trials. Diet-plus-exercise programs helped only when they cut calories and taught clear skills.

Maïano et al. (2014) showed active programs can trim weight in youth with ID. The adult picture is bleaker, so we need adult-focused plans.

Laposa et al. (2017) listed 37 barriers to exercise, such as lack of transport and fear of injury. These barriers explain why the Irish adults moved so little.

Use these numbers when you write a health goal. A BMI over 25 is the norm here, not the exception.

Pair any diet advice with a travel plan: walk to the shop, dance at day-centre, or use video workouts.

Add simple visuals: a plate picture for portions, a step counter for movement.

Start small. One extra fruit and ten extra minutes of walking this week is already above the survey average.