Comparison of obesity among Chinese and U.S. Special Olympic athletes with intellectual disabilities. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, H.; Frey, G.C.; McCormick, B.P.; Johnston, J.D.
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 41/42(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 100
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Body mass index -- Intellectual disability -- Obesity -- Special Olympics -- China -- Nutrition -- United States; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2015.05.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: Secondary data from Chinese and U.S. Special Olympics athletes with ID were analyzed. Variable of interest was BMI. Obesity level was classified using BMI according to country-specific standards. U.S. athletes exhibited higher BMI and greater obesity levels than Chinese athletes. Country of residence and age, but not gender, predicted obesity. Abstract: Background/objectives: Obesity is a health problem in China, but there are no reports on the obesity status of Chinese citizens with intellectual disabilities (ID). Research has shown that adults with ID have higher body mass index (BMI) than adults without ID, but this information is primarily based on populations residing in North American and European countries. The purpose of this study was to compare BMI and obesity status of Chinese and U.S. Special Olympic athletes with ID. Subjects/methods: Height, weight, BMI and self-reported physical activity (SRPA) data from the Special Olympics 2006 U.S. National Games and 2007 Shanghai World Games databases were analyzed. Linear and logistic analyses were conducted for continuous data and dichotomous variables, respectively. Predictor variables were age, gender, country, SRPA, and obesity status according to country specific criteria. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The U.S. group had significantly higher BMI values than their Chinese counterparts. Age ( p = 0.001) and country ( p = <0.001) were the main predictors of BMI and obesity status, even when country-specific standards of obesity classifications were used. Holding all other factors constant, each unit increase of age was associated with increased odds for obesity by a factor of 1.04 and the odds of obesity occurring in U.S. athletes was 2.47 times greater than in Chinese athletes. Conclusion: Obesity is an emerging health problem for Chinese adults with ID. Participation in Special Olympics does not offset obesity in people with ID and other methods of intervention are needed to address obesity in this population segment. This is a global health concern that requires immediate attention.