title: Comparison of obesity among Chinese and U.S. Special Olympic athletes with intellectual disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is a health problem in China, but there are no reports on the obesity status of Chinese citizens with intellectual disabilities (ID). Research has shown that adults with ID have higher body mass index (BMI) than adults without ID, but this information is primarily based on populations residing in North American and European countries. The purpose of this study was to compare BMI and obesity status of Chinese and U.S. Special Olympic athletes with ID.
  
  
  METHODS
  Height, weight, BMI and self-reported physical activity (SRPA) data from the Special Olympics 2006 U.S. National Games and 2007 Shanghai World Games databases were analyzed. Linear and logistic analyses were conducted for continuous data and dichotomous variables, respectively. Predictor variables were age, gender, country, SRPA, and obesity status according to country specific criteria. Significance was set at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The U.S. group had significantly higher BMI values than their Chinese counterparts. Age (p = 0.001) and country (p = <0.001) were the main predictors of BMI and obesity status, even when country-specific standards of obesity classifications were used. Holding all other factors constant, each unit increase of age was associated with increased odds for obesity by a factor of 1.04 and the odds of obesity occurring in U.S. athletes was 2.47 times greater than in Chinese athletes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity is an emerging health problem for Chinese adults with ID. Participation in Special Olympics does not offset obesity in people with ID and other methods of intervention are needed to address obesity in this population segment. This is a global health concern that requires immediate attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois, Chicago 1640W. Roosevelt Road, MC 626, Chicago, IL 60608, United States. Electronic address: hli48@uic.edu.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, 1025 E. 7th St/SPH 112, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States. Electronic address: gfrey@indiana.edu.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.affiliation: Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Studies, Indiana University, 1025 E. 7th St/SPH 133, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States. Electronic address: bmccormi@indiana.edu.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, 1025 E. 7th St/SPH 112, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States. Electronic address: jdjohnst@indiana.edu.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D064846:Sports for Persons with Disabilities; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body mass index; China; Intellectual disability; Nutrition; Obesity; Special Olympics; United States