Considering that children with intellectual disability (ID) might be more vulnerable to obesity than their counterparts in the general population. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an adapted physical activity (APA) program in reducing weight among adolescents with ID. The hypothesis of the study was the APA program would be able to decrease obesity among adolescents with ID.
Background: Children with intellectual disability (ID) might be more vulnerable to obesity than their counterparts in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an adapted physical activity (APA) program in reducing weight among adolescents with ID. Methods: A 9-month randomized controlled trial of a school-based APA program was conducted in adolescents with ID and overweight/obesity in Hong Kong. The intervention group received the APA program which consisted of endurance and strength-building exercises at a frequency of two sessions per week, while the control group received routine PE classes as usual. Data on obesity-related variables were collected before the intervention, at the midpoint of the intervention and after the intervention. Linear mixed-effect models were used to examine the intervention effects.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
86
This PA program was modified from an adapted physical activity (APA) program that designed for obesity management among adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). The aim of the APA program was to promote PA and health for people in special needs. In this study, the APA program was carefully designed based on a comprehensive pre-intervention assessment of each adolescent with ID, so that can be able to address their individual needs in learning and adaption. The APA program comprised three stages of APA training at school and each stage consisted of simple and fun endurance and strength-building exercise, at a frequency of two sessions per week, and lasting for about three months.
Hong Kong Bapist University
Hong Kong, China
BMI Change
The primary outcome variable was change in BMI (weight (kg) / height2 (m)) that was further calculated from the height and weight measured at school in the morning time. Height was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using a stadiometer and weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg on a TANITA digital scale (TBF-410) with the subject wearing lightweight clothing and no shoes.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months
BMIz Change
The BMIz was converted from the BMI values using WHO 2007 reference standards. A z-score of 0 is equal to the mean and is considered normal. Lower numbers indicate values lower than the mean and higher numbers indicate values higher than the mean. Higher values denote a higher BMI.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months
Weight Change
Weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg on a calibrated TANITA digital scale (TBF-410) with the subject wearing lightweight clothing and no shoes.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months
Percent Body Fat Change
Percent body fat was measured with the TANITA digital scale (TBF-410) using foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months
Waist Circumference Change
Waist circumference (cm) was measured with a flexible meter ribbon accurate to 0.1 cm at the midway between the lowest rib margin and the top of the iliac crest at the end of gentle expiration
Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months
Waist-to-height Ratio Change
Waist-to-height ratio was calculated by dividing the waist circumference by the height.
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Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Change
Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the 9-minute run/walk test. The test measured how far a person can cover a flat surface 25 meters in length over a 9-minute period.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months
Muscular Strength and Endurance Change
The muscular strength and endurance were measured by handgrip strength and sit-ups. The handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer (Takei, TKK5001, GRIP-A digital dynamometer). The sit-ups measured the total number of correctly completed sit-ups performed in 30 seconds.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months
Flexibility Change
Flexibility was measured by the sit-and-reach test.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 4 months and 9 months