title: Obesity Prevention for Children with Developmental Disabilities.
abstract: The prevention of obesity in children with DD is a pressing public health issue, with implications for health status, independent living, and quality of life. Substantial evidence suggests that children with developmental disabilities (DD), including those with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have a prevalence of obesity at least as high if not higher than their typically developing peers. The paper reviews what is known about the classic and unique risk factors for childhood obesity in these groups of children, including dietary, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and family factors, as well as medication use. We use evidence from the literature to make the case that primary prevention at the individual/family, school and community levels will require tailoring of strategies and adapting existing intervention approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: Aviva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Must
authors.affiliation: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 465 Medford Street, Suite 500, Charlestown, MA 02129.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curtin
authors.affiliation: Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 75 Kneeland Street, 8 Floor, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: Kristie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7167 UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7167.
authors.forename: Linmarie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sikich
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7160 UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bedford
authors.affiliation: Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 465 Medford Street, Suite 500, Charlestown, MA 02129.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bandini
keywords: Developmental disabilities; antipsychotic medication; autism spectrum disorder; obesity; obesity prevention; overweight; special health care needs; weight