title: Caregivers' effect on weight management in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caregivers of adults with IDD often play a large role in the ability of adults with IDD to lose weight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine to examine the effects of the caregivers' perceived burdens and self-efficacy and their relationship to an individual (family member or paid staff) on weight changes across a weight management intervention for adults with IDD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overweight/obese adults with mild to moderate IDD, along with assigned caregivers who served as their study partner, were randomized to an 18-month weight management intervention. The living environment and caregiver relationship were assessed at baseline. Caregivers completed questionnaires regarding perceived hassles, uplifts, and self-efficacy in helping the participant follow a weight management intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  147 adults with IDD (∼57% women and ∼16% minorities) were included in data analysis. After 18 months, there were no differences in weight loss between participants who had a family member as their study partner and those who had a paid assistant as their study partner (-5.5 ± 5.2% vs. -5.6± 5.3% p = 0.16). However, paid assistants reported more hassles with following the diet intervention at 6 months (p < 0.05). Participants who had a paid assistant as their study partner were more likely to have multiple study partners during the study, which was correlated with smaller weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While caregivers are important for weight management of adults with IDD, the caregiver's relationship to the participant does not affect weight change in an intervention.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. Electronic address: lptomey@ku.edu.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Ptomey
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. Electronic address: cgibson@kumc.edu.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Measurement, Methodology, Analysis and Policy, Texas Tech University, 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. Electronic address: jaehoon.lee@ttu.edu.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. Electronic address: dsulliva@kumc.edu.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. Electronic address: Rwashburn@ku.edu.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Washburn
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. Electronic address: agorczyca1@ku.edu.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gorczyca
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. Electronic address: Jdonnelly@ku.edu.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Donnelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001835:Body Weight; D017028:Caregivers; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D004032:Diet; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005190:Family; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adults; Caregiver; Family; Intellectual and development disabilities; Weight management