title: Evaluation of a cardiovascular health program for participants with mental retardation and normal learners.
abstract: An evaluation was conducted to compare the impact of an 8-week cardiovascular disease risk reduction group teaching program for 92 individuals with mental retardation (MR; IQ less than 70) and 97 normal learners. The curriculum emphasized exercise, nutritional choices, and stress reduction. Body Mass Index (BMI; weight in kilograms, divided by height in meters, squared), knowledge of healthy eating choices, self-report of fruit and vegetable intake, and exercise were measured before and after the intervention. The mean BMI decreased by .89 for normal learners and not at all for the group with MR. However, BMI decreased by at least .75 units (or approximately 5 pounds) for 18.5% of individuals with MR and 44.3% of normal learners.
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Family Practice Center, Columbia 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Marlo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas-Koger
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Whitner
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pierce
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D015397:Program Evaluation