Evaluation of the Eat and Exercise to Win Program: Improving Healthy Behaviors of Adults with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities

摘要

Objectives The goals of this study were to evaluate the Eat and Exercise to Win (EE-2-Win) Program, an obesity prevention program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and to assess the feasibility of photo journals to document change in eating and exercise behaviors of adults with IDD. Methods Participants were five adults with IDD, seven parents of adults with IDD, and eight direct care staff for adults with IDD. Parents and staff participated in individual interviews to evaluate their perceptions of the EE-2-Win Program. Adults with IDD completed photo journals developing goals and then changing eating and exercise behaviors. An open coding approach was used to determine themes in interview data and photo journals. Results Findings indicated that parents and staff believed the program was helpful and related to positive change in eating and exercise behaviors. Young adults were eating more fruits and were more aware of the need to eat healthy foods. Adults engaged in more low-intensity exercise, which often was a social experience. Conclusions Picture-based teaching methods, such as classes from the EE-2-Win Program and photo journals, showed promise in changing eating and exercise behaviors for young adults with IDD. Future research using innovative visual methods may reach a group in need of access to information about obesity prevention.