ABSTRACT
Research on the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of obesity of mentally retarded individuals within the context of research findings with the obese nonretarded population was selectively reviewed. According to the available literature, obesity is a prevalent problem in the retarded population, and there is a greater incidence among females than males. The literature also suggests that obese retarded subjects as a group can be distinguished from their nonobese peers by their physical condition, but not by their eating style or personality characteristics. Behavioral self-control strategies have been found to be effective in producing weight loss in obese retarded children and adults. Further research is needed to reduce the high interindividual variability observed in treatment outcome studies and to address problems of long-term maintenance of weight loss.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability/complications , Obesity/complications , Adult , Anxiety/complications , Behavior Therapy/methods , Feeding Behavior , Female , Humans , Male , Obesity/epidemiology , Obesity/psychology , Parents , Personality , Physical Fitness , Self Concept , United StatesABSTRACT
Two groups of moderately retarded, obese adults were given a 10-week behavioral treatment program designed to produce changes in their eating, activity and self-reinforcement patterns and to produce weight loss. In one group (N = 8, X = 27 years) parents of the participants were actively involved in the treatment program; in the second group (N = 7, X age = 29) parents were minimally involved. At the end of treatment, subjects in the parent-involved group lost significantly more weight (X = 7.4 pounds) with less intra-group variability (S.D. = 2.26 pounds) than the other treatment group (X = 2.4 pounds; S.D. = 4.38 pounds). A strong correlation was also found between degree of subject involvement in treatment (as measured by the number of daily homework forms completed) and weight loss. Implications of the data for future treatment programs are discussed.
Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy/methods , Intellectual Disability/complications , Obesity/therapy , Parents , Adult , Body Weight , Female , Humans , Male , Obesity/complications , Reinforcement, PsychologyABSTRACT
Performance on a test of submaximal cardiovascular endurance and on measures of self-concept and anxiety was studied with 22 obese and 20 nonobese mentally retarded adults. Results indicated that the endurance test successfully discriminated between the obese and nonobese groups while the personality measures did not. Implications of this finding for obesity treatment were discussed.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability/psychology , Obesity/psychology , Personality , Physical Fitness , Adult , Anxiety , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/complications , Male , Manifest Anxiety Scale , Obesity/complications , Physical Endurance , Self ConceptABSTRACT
The issue of gaining research access to mentally retarded children attending public schools is discussed. Preliminary steps completed prior to conducting a research investigation in the school settings were described within the framework of two independent studies. The important role of the special education teacher in conducting research in the natural environment is delineated.
Subject(s)
Education of Intellectually Disabled , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Child , Deinstitutionalization/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Informed Consent/legislation & jurisprudence , Research , United StatesABSTRACT
Triceps skinfold thickness and body weight measures were obtained for 44 female and 40 male mentally retarded adults participating in a sheltered workshop setting. Subjects' relative weights and skinfold thicknesses were found to correlate reasonably well for females and males, rs = .88 and .59, respectively. Use of only height and weight tables for determining the presence of obesity, however, resulted in 22.5 percent of the males and 13.7 percent of the females being misclassified as nonobese. The distinction between overweight and obesity was discussed. Clinical/research implications of the findings were delineated.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability/complications , Obesity/classification , Adult , Body Weight , Female , Humans , Male , Sheltered Workshops , Skinfold ThicknessSubject(s)
Child Behavior Disorders/psychology , Learning Disabilities/psychology , Parent-Child Relations , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , PsychometricsABSTRACT
An obese group and a nonobese group of moderately mentally retarded adults were identified through use of body weight and tricep skinfold thickness measures. Subjects were observed individually in a sheltered workshop cafeteria during their normal lunch period. A variety of eating behavior measures were obtained. Results indicated that the obese retarded subjects did not differ from their nonobese peers in eating rate, total meal time, or caloric intake. Large variability was observed in the measures for both groups. Implications of these data for behavioral treatments of obesity and the need for alternative explanations of an obese condition were discussed.
Subject(s)
Feeding Behavior , Intellectual Disability/complications , Obesity/complications , Adult , Body Weight , Energy Intake , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Male , Obesity/psychology , Skinfold Thickness , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Intellectual Disability/complications , Obesity/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/epidemiology , Sex Factors , United StatesSubject(s)
Behavior Therapy/methods , Education of Intellectually Disabled , Teaching , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child Behavior Disorders/rehabilitation , Female , HumansSubject(s)
Behavior Therapy/methods , Mental Disorders/therapy , Obesity/therapy , Adult , Body Weight , Female , Humans , Male , Residential TreatmentABSTRACT
A behavioural weight reduction treatment model for use with retarded adults is discussed. The model describes five stages of the treatment programme. Instructional components and techniques are reviewed. The model was designed for implementation by nurses, dieticians, and other nutritional health educators.
Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability , Models, Theoretical , Obesity/prevention & control , Behavior Therapy/methods , Halfway Houses , HumansABSTRACT
Fifteen mildly retarded children (mean CA = 11 years, MA = 8 years, IQ = 71), Including nine males and six females, were compared with the same number of both CA- and MA-matched intellectually normal children, including 14 males and 16 females, on a Type I incidental learning task involving simple recognition and recall skills. The results of this comparison found that the retarded group learned incidentally, as well as the MA-matched normal group, but exhibited significantly poorer incidental learning than the CA-matched normal group. These results supported the hypothesis that an incidental learning deficiency exists for the retarded group compared with the CA-matched intellectually normal children but not with the MA-matched normal children.
