Little evidence exists regarding the physical activity behaviour of adults with an intellectual disability (AWID).  Where evidence does exist, methodological flaws have undermined the value of the information and made comparative and public health investigations implausible.

PURPOSE:  The purpose of this study was to use an objective measure to monitor the free-living physical activity behaviour of AWID and determine whether AWID meet national physical activity recommendations. 

METHOD:  Fifty-three ambulatory, community residing AWID (males, N=22, females, N=31) wore an accelerometer (Models 7167-2.2 or 7164-2.2) for a minimum of 5-days consecutively (from waking to sleep). 

RESULTS:  An independent samples t-test revealed a significant difference for gender for the minutes per hour of light, moderate and vigorous physical activity.  Males engaged in significantly less light intensity physical activity (t(23.83)=-3.72,p=.001) and significantly more moderate intensity (t(24.16)=3.72,p=.001) and vigorous intensity (t(19.11)=2.27,p=.035) physical activity than females.  Twenty percent of AWID (male N= 7, female N=2) met the national physical activity recommendation of at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on at least 5 days per week.  Subsequent analysis revealed a significant relationship between gender and meeting the national physical activity recommendations (c²(1,N=45)=5.83,p=.016).

CONCLUSION:  Few AWID engage in sufficient moderate intensity physical activity on a regular basis to achieve a health benefit as determined by national recommendations. Male AWID engaged in less sedentary and more moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity than female AWID.