Physical activity, dietary habits and overall health in overweight and obese children and youth with intellectual disability or autism.
Short after-school diet-and-exercise clubs cut candy but do not move the scale for youth with ID or autism.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers ran a 10-week after-school program for 32 overweight kids with autism or intellectual disability.
The kids met 18 times for games, walking, and nutrition lessons.
Before and after, staff measured weight, waist, candy intake, and a six-minute walk test.
What they found
Candy eating dropped by almost half.
Kids walked 40 meters farther in six minutes.
Weight, BMI, and waist size barely budged.
Most fitness gains were too small to matter.
How this fits with other research
Smith et al. (2014) showed teens with ID already have higher obesity rates than typical peers, so the lack of weight change here is disappointing.
Leung et al. (2017) warn that fitness trackers often fail with ID youth; this study used simple walk tests instead, a smart match.
Atan et al. (2026) find food-insecure disabled kids gain more weight, hinting that family poverty may drown out short school programs like this one.
Why it matters
You now know an 18-session club is not enough to shrink waistlines. Keep the candy-reduction lessons—they worked—but pair them with longer, family-level changes. Add a two-question food-security screener at intake; if the pantry is empty, refer to SNAP or a food bank before the next session starts.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
In children and youth with disability, the risk of obesity is higher and is associated with lower levels of physical activity, inappropriate eating behaviors, and chronic health conditions. We determined the effectiveness of a program in managing weight, through changes in physical activity and nutrition behaviors in overweight and obese New Zealand children and youth with intellectual disability or autism. Twenty-two children and youth 14±4 y (mean±SD) and their families participated in a 10-week school-based program. The program consisted of 18 sessions focusing on physical activity and nutrition. Changes were measured immediately after completion of the program (post 1) and at 24 weeks (follow up). Fitness was assessed with the six-minute walk-test (6MWT) and body fatness via waist circumference and BMI. Physical activity and nutrition changes were measured by means of proxy reporting and interviews with parents. Individual interviews were conducted with school teachers and program leaders at 24 weeks to gain feedback regarding the program. Most quantitative outcomes were either unclear or trivial. The only possible change was observed in the six-minute walk-test where 24 weeks post program where participants walked 51 m further. There was however, a substantial reduction in the consumption of confectionery and chocolate at the two measurement points. Parents commented that during the program there were less hospital visits and absences from school related to illness. The program assisted in the development of a supportive community network and participants' abilities to partake in family and community activities. This the first study to report on the results of a physical activity and nutrition program targeted in children and youth with intellectual disability and autism. The results of this study may support and inform future developments of an integrated weight management and prevention program to enhance the health and well being in children and youth with disabilities.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2012.12.006