Dietary habits of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in community-based settings

With the increasing numbers of aging adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) living in community-based settings, major health concerns are emerging and individuals are experiencing greater disparities in health status compared to their non-disabled peers. These health disparities led to the 2002 Report of the Surgeon General's Conference on Health Disparities and Mental Retardation which identified two key goals to: 1) integrate health promotion into community environments of people with ID and 2) increase knowledge and understanding of health through practical and useful information. Adults with I/DD living in group homes and apartment settings have diets high in fat calories and low in fruits and vegetables. This descriptive study analyzed data collected from 53 adults with I/DD. Measures included demographic and health information (including fasting blood cholesterol, body mass index, and blood pressure), consumption of fruits and vegetables, food purchasing and preparation, outcome expectations and barriers to eating more fruits and vegetables reported by adults with I/DD and their informants. Results from this study found 45% of the participants consume less than two servings of fruits and vegetables per day, 64% had little or no involvement in food preparation, shopping, and meal planning, 33% reported that the food they eat is not healthy, and 11% reported that they do not like the food that they eat. Results suggest a need for further research related to accessible nutrition health promotion programs for adults with I/DD living in community settings and their carers.