Demonstrating the well‐being benefits of a weight loss programme for people with a learning disability

Abstract

Little is known about the health, well‐being and social interaction benefits of physical activity in adults with a learning disability. This is probably due to the methodological barriers to research and the problem of gaining informed consent from the participants. This paper describes a feasibility study, where six adults with learning disabilities regularly attended a weight management and fitness session. An observation methodology was tested to see if it was possible to gather quantitative evidence on well‐being and social interaction during participation in the sessions. Issues about veridicality, consent, validity and controls are discussed.

Citation

Griffin, M. (2009), "Demonstrating the well‐being benefits of a weight loss programme for people with a learning disability", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 32-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200900006