How can Occupational Therapy prevent weight

gain/obesity in those with intellectual disabilities?

Brittany Norton, OTAS
Northland Community and Technical College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
Clinical Scenario
Between1980 and 2008: 25% of
people over age 18, 8% of children
between ages 7 and 15, 37% of
adults and 17% of children were
considered overweight (Haracz, 2013).
Obesity rates for adults with
disabilities are 58% higher than adults
without disabilities (Disability and
Obesity, 2014).

Those with intellectual disabilities are

at a greater risk of becoming obese
(Disability and Obesity, 2014).

Late teens to early 20s are a

vulnerable stage of gaining weight
because this is a time for transition
(Avery, 2012).

Those with intellectual disabilities

have a harder time transitioning from
home to living on their own. They
have fewer resources such as
transportation, support from friends
and family and money (Avery, 2012).

Bottom Line
Occupational therapy professionals need to:
Incorporate education on transportation, education on proper diet,
exploration of various exercise activities and help individuals create a
schedule they would be able to follow (Lloyd, 2013).
Advocate for exercise programs that are just for those individuals with
intellectual disabilities as well as use a multi-component intervention
which is the use of three or more interventions that take into
consideration the individuals personal diet, behavior plans and
physical activity to help achieve their weight loss goals (Spanos, 2013b).
Incorporate the four main categories that focus on Occupational
Therapy intervention: heath promotion and prevention, increase
physical activity participation, modifying dietary intake and reducing
the impact of obesity (Haracz, 2013).
Intervene at a younger age through the concept of play to help the
individual develop a better understanding of nutrition and how to
make healthier options (Munguba, 2008).
Educate caregivers on obesity, nutrition and prevention as the
caregiver can play a vital role to help promote independence,
empower the individual with their own decision making abilities, goal
setting and self regulation aspects (Spanos, 2013a).
Educate individuals on the effects of obesity, how alcohol and
smoking can have a negative impact as well as how to eat healthy on
a budget and develop simple cooking skills depending on intellectual
disability level (Avery, 2012).
Create an exercise program involving activities that are meaningful to
the individual as well as encourage a good diet with all five food
groups and the individuals food preferences (Avery, 2012).
Incorporate a Take 5 approach by combining the elements of a
behavior approach and physical activity (Spanos, 2013a).
Take into consideration mental health issues such as the negative
impact on self esteem and mental well being to help develop the best
plan possible (Avery, 2012).

Summary of Key Findings

Spanos, 2013b found that a multi component model
including diet, behavior and physical activity can help
achieve the goal of losing weight.
Munguba, 2008 found that educational nutritional play
activities demonstrated a promotion of learning through
interactive games.
Lloyd, 2003 found that occupational therapy
professionals can help individuals with disabilities in
developing a physical activity program.
Melville, 2008 found that there is an increased
prevalence of obesity with those adults with intellectual
disabilities.
Avery, 2012 found that a balanced diet of all five food
groups, developing simple cooking skills and ways to
eat healthy on a budget as well as avoid alcohol and
smoking can help prevent obesity.
Spanos, 2013a found a Take 5 multicomponent
approach that includes interventions such as a
personalized diet plan, levels of behavior approach and
various methods to promote a healthy lifestyle of
individuals with Intellectual disabilities
Haracz, 2013 noted four main categories with the focus
on Occupational Therapy intervention that include:
health promotion and prevention, increasing physical
activity participation, modifying dietary intake and
reducing the impact of obesity.

Limitations
Overall limitations include lack of articles pertaining to
those with intellectual disabilities: the definition of
Intellectual disability can vary from person to person:
small sample sizes, little diversity between weight
gain and age groups: little diversity between different
techniques I.E. occupational therapy