Survey on dysfunctional eating behavior in adult persons with intellectual disability living in the community.

Hove (2007) mailed a short checklist to staff in 235 Norwegian group homes. Staff rated 311 adults with intellectual disability for five eating problems: bolting food, eating too fast, food refusal, eating too much, and mealtime non-cooperation.

The survey asked one simple question: how many residents show these behaviors at least once a week?

Two out of every three adults scored positive. The top problems were eating too fast, bolting food, and refusing meals.

Only one in three residents had no eating concerns, leaving the majority at risk for choking, weight gain, or poor nutrition.

Hodges et al. (2020) reviewed 14 studies and showed that a 10-minute functional analysis can tell you why a client bolts food or refuses meals. Oddbjørn’s numbers give you the size of the problem; Abby gives you the next step.

Takashima et al. (1994) looked at the same age group in UK institutions and found only 6 % had polydipsia. The huge gap—6 % versus 64 %—looks like a contradiction, but the 1994 paper counted only excessive water drinking in large state facilities, while Oddbjørn counted everyday mealtime problems in small community homes. Setting and definition explain the difference.

Bhaumik et al. (2008) later mapped BMI in the same Norwegian region and found high rates of both under- and overweight in adults with ID. Oddbjørn’s list of fast eating and meal refusal helps explain how those weight extremes happen.

If you supervise adults with ID in day programs or supported living, expect most to have an eating quirk that can turn medical. Use Oddbjørn’s five-item list as a quick screen during intake or annual review. When a client checks two or more boxes, run a brief functional analysis (see Abby et al., 2020) and add mealtime goals to the behavior plan.