Demonstrating the well‐being benefits of a weight loss programme for people with a learning disability
| Published date | 10 July 2009 |
| Pages | 32-36 |
| Date | 10 July 2009 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200900006 |
| Author | Murray Griffin |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Little is known about the health,well-being and social interaction benefits of physical activity in adults
with a learning disability.This is probably due to the methodologic al barriers to research and the
problem of gaining informed consent from the par ticipants.This paper describes a feasibility study,
where six adults with learning disabilities regularly attended a weight management and fitness session.
An observation methodology was tested to see if it was possible to gather quantitative evidence on
well-being and social interaction during participation in the sessions. Issuesabout veridicality, consent,
validity and controls are discussed.
Demonstrating the well-
being benefits of a weight
loss programme for people
with a learning disability
Murray Griffin
Chartered Psychologist
Centre for Sport and
Exercise Science
University of Essex
Correspondence to:
Murray Griffin
Chartered Psychologist
Centre for Sport and
Exercise Science
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
Essex
CO4 3SQ
EVALUATION
32 journalof public mental health
vol8 • issue 1
There is substantial evidence to support
the id ea tha t phys ical a ctivity ha s a
positi ve effect on bot h ones sen se of
self a nd ge ner al wel l-b ein g (for
exam ple , Mar tins en et a l, 19 85).
Howe ver, the re is much les s rese arch p erformed
specifically on those with learning disabilities, and
much o f what exis ts cen tres on phy sica l hea lth.
Even here, Robertson et al (2000) assert tha t there
is lit tle k now n abou t the p rev alen ce an d
determinants of lifesty le risk factors among people
with l ear nin g disa bil iti es. In t hei r stud y of 50 0
peopl e, they fo und a prevalen ce of poo r diet an d
litt le ph ysi cal ac tiv ity. In w omen t hey n ote d
considera ble evidenc e of obesity. They argue that
incr eas ing p hysi cal a cti vity i s the s ing le mos t
effective way of improving the health of this group.
Robe et al (1995) examinedmortality and morbidity
in people with learnin g disabilities and foun d that
due to increased longevit y and changing lifestyles,
many h ad th e ris k fact ors f or ca ncer o r
cardiovasculardisease. They acknowledge a need for
an increase in programmes to limit these risk factors
and, importantly, identified an urgent need for the
evaluation of the effectivenessof these programmes.
This i s in co ntr ast to J ani cki et al ( 2002 ), wh o
exam ine d the he alt h stat us an d heal th ne eds of
adults w ith a learn ing disability a nd notic ed that
while these change with advancing age, they found
them to be mostly in good health. They claim that
their results sugge st that either a cohort e ffect was
oper ati ng (i e. con tem por ary po pul ati ons ar e
healthier than previous populations), or that there
may be under-recognition of select risk facto rs and
dise ase s. Th e latt er is s upp orte d by Ma rti n et al
(200 2), w ho de scri be an u nde r-rep ort ing o f
heal th (pa rtic ular ly men tal he alth ) prob lems o f
people with learningdisabilities. Indeed, the Valuing
Peop le No w rep ort on l ear nin g disa bil ity s tate s
that th ere was ‘ evide nce of go od practice’ , but al so
‘appalling examples of discrimination, abuse and neglect
acros s the ra nge of he alth servic es’ (D epart ment o f
Health, 2008).
There is ver y little kno wn about the effects of
phys ica l act ivit y on we ll- bein g in th ose w ith a
learning disability.There is no reason to suspect that
this group are any diff erent to anyone else, in that
the mechanisms for health are likely to be the same.
©Pavilion Journals (Br ighton) Ltd
Keywords
learning disability
well-being
physical activity
social interaction
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