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Background: People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience high rates of lifestyle related morbidities, in part due to lack of access to tailored health promotion programmes. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a tailored healthy lifestyle intervention, Get Healthy! Methods: Get Healthy! is a 12-week physical activity and healthy eating programme designed to address lifestyle-related risks for adults with mild-moderate ID. The feasibility pilot was designed to assess subjective participant experience and programme feasibility across: recruitment and screening, retention, session attendance and engagement, adverse events, and practicality and reliability of outcome procedures. Exploratory programme efficacy was assessed across the following measures: anthropometry (body mass index, weight, waist circumference), cardiovascular fitness, physical strength, dietary intake, healthy literacy, and quality of life. Results: Six participants with moderate ID and two carer participants completed the feasibility trial, representing a 100% retention rate. Qualitative data indicated the programme was well received. Participants with ID attended 75% of sessions offered and displayed a high level of engagement in sessions attended (91% mean engagement score). While most data collection procedures were feasible to implement, several measures were either not feasible for our participants, or required a higher level of support to implement than was provided in the existing trial protocol. Participants with ID displayed decreases in mean waist circumference between baseline and endpoint (95% CI: − 3.20, − 0.17 cm) and some improvements in measures of cardiovascular fitness and physical strength. No changes in weight, body mass index, or objectively measured knowledge of nutrition and exercise or quality of life were detected from baseline to programme endpoint. Dietary intake results were mixed. Discussion: The Get Healthy! programme was feasible to implement and well received by participants with moderate ID and their carers. Exploratory efficacy data indicates the programme has potential to positively impact important cardiometabolic risk factors such as waist circumference, cardiovascular fitness, and physical strength. Several of the proposed data collection instruments will require modification or replacement prior to use in a sufficiently powered efficacy trial. Trial registration: ACTRN: ACTRN12618000349246. Registered March 8th 2018—retrospectively registered, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=374497 UTN: U1111-1209–3132. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older Australians with intellectual disabilities experience high rates of lifestyle-related illness, yet generally have poor diets and participate in limited physical activity. Eliciting the perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities and support workers may inform interventions to support healthy lifestyles. A semi-structured focus group question framework was developed to investigate participants' experiences of barriers and enablers of physical activity and healthy eating. Data from focus groups with paid support workers (n = 6) and people with intellectual disabilities (n = 8) aged 60 + years were analysed within this framework. Similarities and differences between perspectives were explored. Both groups perceived decreased physical activity as an inevitable aspect of ageing. Health problems and environmental constraints were also identified. Embedding physical activity into daily routines, providing choices, and viewing exercise as beneficial, were highlighted as enablers across groups. Support workers, but not people with intellectual disabilities, identified barriers to healthy eating including use of "junk" food to manage behaviour and lack of message consistency between care providers. Financial and human resource barriers were also highlighted by support workers. Both carers and people with intellectual disabilities may benefit from specialised support to adapt healthy lifestyle interventions for people as they age. Behavioural management strategies unrelated to food should be promoted. Organisational and policy-level commitment are needed to ensure that healthy lifestyle programs are adequately resourced to meet the needs of the ageing population with intellectual disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiometabolic morbidity is a significant contributor to the poorer health outcomes experienced by people with intellectual disability (ID). Tailoring cardiometabolic monitoring tools developed for the general population to better fit the altered risk profiles and extra needs of people with ID may help to improve health outcomes. This paper describes a new cardiometabolic monitoring framework designed to address the extra needs of people with ID. The framework was adapted from a generalist guideline after a process of extensive consultation with the original authors and over 30 ID and cardiometabolic experts. In addition to standard cardiometabolic monitoring practice, the framework encourages clinicians to: anticipate and address barriers to care such as communication difficulties and fear of blood tests; account for socioeconomic and genetic factors altering baseline cardiometabolic risk; and carefully rationalize psychotropic prescription. Together with this framework, a toolkit of free cardiometabolic resources tailored for people with ID and formal and informal carers is included. The monitoring framework promotes a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to cardiometabolic care for people with ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]