Nurse-Initiated Health Screenings for Obese People with Intellectual Disabilities

Marshall, D., McConkey, R., & Moore, G. (2003). Obesity in people with intellectual disabilities: The impact of nurse-led health screenings and health promotion activities. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 41(2), 147-153.

Study 1 followed up on 464 obese persons with intellectual disabilities during a comprehensive health screening to determine future actions. Study 2 investigated the impact of health promotion classes for 25 persons regarding weight reduction.

This pair of studies confirms the prevalence of overweight and obesity in persons with intellectual disabilities, provides evidence that identification of potential health problems may not necessarily lead to action toward correction and/or health gains in persons with intellectual disabilities, and shows that classes designed to promote good nutrition and exercise were successful in affecting weight loss in the sample population (at least in the short term).

Read the complete abstract at http://www.ncpad.org/149/1136/Obesity~in~people~with~intellectual~disabilities~~The~impact~
of~nurse-led~health~screenings~and~health~promotion~activities~.

Group and Individual Counseling for Physical Activity Promotion

Rejeski, W.J., & Focht, B.C. (2002). Aging and Physical Disability: On Integrating Group and Individual Counseling with the Promotion of Physical Activity. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 30(4), 166-170.

As older adults face a plethora of chronic health conditions and physical disabilities, it is critical that they be empowered to become and remain functional. Referring specifically to older adult populations with knee pain/arthritis, this article compares two models of pathways to functional limitations and then creates a third model that includes self-efficacy beliefs and physical symptoms.

Research in this area is needed in order to find the important mediating variables in the older population for motivation to start and maintain an active lifestyle, to empower perception of a functional daily life, and to find interventions to assist in coping with the physical symptoms. On a broader scale, research can contribute to spreading the awareness of the needs of our older population to affected organizations and society in general, as well as reaching public policy.

Read the complete abstract at http://www.ncpad.org/152/1146/Aging~and~Physical~Disability~~On~Integrating~Group~and~
Individual~Counseling~With~the~Promotion~of~Physical~Activity