Obesity is as much of a health problem in youth with IDD as it is among youth without disabilities and, in certain disability groups, is a significantly greater health problem. Obese youth with IDD have a high number of obesity-related secondary conditions predisposing them to greater health problems as they transition into adulthood. Federal and local initiatives to reduce obesity among youth in the general population must recognise the need for interventions that are also relevant (i.e. accessible and effective) for youth with IDD.

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While much of the industrialized world struggles for clues to the growing rise in obesity in their respective countries, researchers and service providers involved in understanding the health characteristics and health behaviors of persons with intellectual disability (ID) struggle with their own issues regarding the increased prevalence of obesity in this segment of the population. What is particularly alarming is that adults with ID residing in the United States in smaller, less supervised settings (e.g., group homes and family households) have a significantly higher rate of obesity compared to other countries and those living in larger and more supervised settings (e.g., institutions). These differences support the theory that the environment appears to exert a powerful influence on obesity in this population. Obesity presents a substantial threat to the livelihood of persons with ID and may have an effect on community participation, independent living, and healthy years of life. The lack of research on successful weight reduction strategies for obese persons with ID makes this an important and greatly needed area of research. Key Words: obesity; intellectual disability; developmental disability; health promotion; health status O besity is a serious health risk among many individuals and groups throughout the industrialized world and often leads to various health conditions including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, stroke, stress, depression, and respiratory diseases [Eckel, 1997; National Institutes of Health, 1998;Must et al., 1999;Pi-Sunyer, 1999; National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity, 2000]. In the United States, obesity has more than doubled from 13.4% in 196013.4% in to 30.9% in 200013.4% in [Flegal et al., 2002. As a result of this substantial increase, the U.S. Surgeon General declared that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the nation and called for an immediate action to prevent and reduce its impact on both the individual and society at large [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001].Researchers have also recognized that obesity is a major health threat in persons with intellectual disability (ID) [Fox and Rotatori, 1982;Kelly et al., 1986;Rimmer et al., 1993;Rubin et al., 1998;Horwitz et al., 2000;Janicki et al., 2002;Traci et al., 2002]. Population-level prevalence data indicate that the obesity levels of adults with ID are either similar to or higher than their non-ID counterparts [Emerson, 2005;Yamaki, 2005]. Lack of healthy eating habits and regular physical activity, common factors associated with obesity in the general population [U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, 2001], are also growing problems among persons with ID [Draheim et al., 2002;Braunschweig et al., 2004;Emerson, 2005].Obesity results in significant societal and personal costs [Poston and Foreyt, 1999]. Among persons with ID, it has the potential to reduce or limit opportunities for various types of community participation, including employment and leisu...

This article presents childhood disability prevalence trends and their interaction with economic status. Estimates derived from National Health Interview Survey data (1983–1996) indicate a significant increase in childhood disability rates. Increased risk for disability was among constituencies defined by poverty and single-parent families. Analysis suggests three dynamics: (a) greater risk in single-parent households, (b) no incremental risk associated with racial or ethnic status after controlling for poverty, and (c) a growing relationship between poverty and risk for disability. Implications were discussed in terms of a “new universe” of disability and the importance of educations involvement in broader national social policy and advocacy.

The prevalence of obese, overweight, and healthy weight adults with intellectual disability in the community was estimated using data from the National Health Interview Survey from 1985 to 2000. Using the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measure, the percentage of adults with intellectual disability in the obese category was higher than that for the general population and increased over the 16-year period. There was no similar detectable trend for adults with intellectual disability who were in the overweight category. Compared to their counterparts in the general population, a smaller proportion of women and young adults with intellectual disability maintained their weights in the healthy range. Implications regarding potential health risks and future research were discussed.