Evaluation of an approach to weight loss in adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Adults with IDD lost six percent of their weight when shakes, portion meals, walking, and photo rewards were packaged together.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Seventy-nine adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities joined a six-month weight-loss program.
They used meal-replacement shakes, portion-controlled dinners, and picture logs of their food.
Each photo earned a small cash reward. Staff also coached them to walk more.
What they found
Most adults stuck with the plan.
The group lost an average of six percent of their starting weight.
Sixty-four out of seventy-three adults dropped pounds.
How this fits with other research
Sasson et al. (2022) pooled seventeen exercise-only trials and found no weight change in people with ID.
Mount et al. (2011) shows you need food changes plus rewards, not just walking.
Fahmie et al. (2013) tried diet and exercise with youth. Kids ate less candy but weight stayed the same.
Adding small cash rewards, as R et al. did, may be the missing piece for adults.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with IDD, swap one regular meal for a portion-controlled entrée. Add a photo log and a tiny prize. This simple bundle produced real weight loss without fancy equipment or clinic visits. Start Monday with one participant and a phone camera.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Of 79 overweight adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who participated in a weight loss intervention, 73 completed the 6-month diet phase. The emphasis in the intervention was consumption of high volume, low calorie foods and beverages, including meal-replacement shakes. Lower calorie frozen entrees were recommended to control portion size. A walking activity was encouraged. Participants attended monthly meetings in which a small amount of cash was exchanged for self-recorded intake and exercise records completed on picture-based forms. Average weight loss was 13.2 pounds (6.3%) of baseline weight at 6 months, with weight loss shown by 64 of the 73 individuals enrolled. Those completing a 6-month follow-up phase showed weight loss of 9.4% of baseline. Increased choice and control are discussed as possible contributors to individual success.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1352/1934-9556-49.2.103