From U Lyon: Physical fitness and fatness in adolescents with intellectual disabilities

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22489034

J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2012 May;25(3):231-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2012.00659.x. Epub 2012 Feb 10.

Physical fitness and fatness in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

Salaun L, Berthouze-Aranda SE.

Source

Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport EA 647, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.

Abstract

Background  

This study investigated health-related fitness in adolescents with intellectual disabilities and analysed the various performances in physical fitness tests according to degrees of obesity. 

Materials and Methods 

Eighty-seven French intellectual disabilities adolescents (14.24 ± 1.48 years) performed the EUROFIT physical fitness test battery. Height, weight and waist circumference were assessed, and BMI and waist-to-height ratio were calculated. 'Bio-impedancemetry' evaluated body fat (BF) percentage. 

Results  

Ninety-four per cent of the adolescents completed the aerobic running test, 52% of which had low VO(2max) . Thirty-seven per cent were obese (%BF), and 32% had excess visceral adipose tissue. Adolescents with the lowest cardiorespiratory fitness had the highest BF percentages (P < 0.001). 

Conclusions  

Intellectual disabilities adolescents showed low physical fitness and high prevalence of obesity. Both could further worsen social participation and health status.