Weight survey on adult persons with mental retardation living in the community.
Check BMI and eating behaviors at every visit—both under- and overweight are common and treatable.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Hove (2004) weighed and interviewed adults with intellectual disability living in Norwegian towns.
The team split the group by disability level and asked about eating problems like food refusal, vomiting, or eating too fast.
What they found
Adults with severe ID were often underweight. Adults with mild ID were often obese.
Behaviors such as refusing food, throwing up meals, or eating without stopping linked to both weight extremes.
How this fits with other research
Rasing et al. (1992) saw the same obesity jump in UK adults with Down syndrome years earlier.
Hsieh et al. (2014) later confirmed the pattern in a bigger U.S. sample and added new risks: female sex, Down syndrome, weight-gain meds, and soda.
Mount et al. (2011) turned the warning into action. They showed adults with ID can lose 6 % of body weight with portion plates, walking, and picture self-monitoring plus small cash rewards.
Why it matters
Weight problems hide in plain sight. A quick BMI check at intake can flag who needs help. If you see food refusal, rapid eating, or vomiting, treat those behaviors first. They may be keeping the client under- or over-weight. Pair nutrition goals with simple self-management tools and tiny reinforcers—Mount et al. (2011) proved it works.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Prevalence of underweight and obesity were investigated in 282 mentally retarded persons living on the West Coast of Norway. Data collected in this survey suggest that people with severe mental retardation were more likely to be underweight and people with mild mental retardation were more likely to be obese. Compared to persons of average intellectual levels, persons with mental retardation were found to be over-represented with both underweight and obesity. Food refusal and self-induced vomiting was more present among persons regarded as underweight and reduced control of food intake was related to obesity. Findings suggest that behavioral variables may have explanatory value with respect to both underweight and obesity. Further investigation using functional analysis of behavior is recommended.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2004 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2003.04.004