"HELP": A Weight Loss Program for Adults with MR

描述（由申请人提供）：智力迟钝（MR）的个体经历了异常高的健康相关问题的患病率。MR患者的肥胖发生率高于一般人群，被认为是一个主要的健康问题。对于超重的人，建议进行体重管理；对于MR患者，这一建议至关重要。在20世纪80年代，利用现有最好的行为技术，为患有核磁共振的人开发了有效的体重管理计划。从那时起，尽管有迫切的需要，但在这一人群的体重管理方面没有进一步的发展。由于时间的流逝，这些从20世纪80年代开始的体重管理计划已经绝版了。这个项目将使用最好的行为方案，专门为个人设计与磁共振同时结合最新进展的体重管理。本研究的主要目的是为患有核磁共振的肥胖成人制定、实施和评估减肥/维持计划的效果，该计划通过改变饮食行为、增加体育活动、让父母作为学习伙伴以及练习维持体重活动来改善营养。为了实现这些目标，我们将开发一种全面的个性化减肥干预措施，并在随机现场研究中评估其有效性（将在第n阶段完成）。在第一阶段，我们将开发干预的初始阶段，并进行试点研究，以确定技能获取和用户接受程度。该计划的创新之处包括强调体重维持和学习伙伴（家长）的积极参与。该计划不仅旨在向患有MR的个人教授特定的减肥/维持技巧，而且还旨在教育和激励学习伙伴积极参与其家庭成员的减肥计划和随后的维持努力。由于肥胖与癌症、心脏病、糖尿病和许多其他疾病有关，因此对肥胖的研究与公共卫生高度相关。美国国立卫生研究院肥胖研究工作组将通过改变生活方式预防和治疗肥胖列为公共卫生界需要追求的四个主要目标之一。通过关注智力障碍患者，该项目为服务不足的高危人群提供了必要的干预工具。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Individuals with mental retardation (MR) experience an exceptionally high prevalence of health related problems. The incidence of obesity for people with MR is higher than the general population and is recognized as a major health problem. For overweight persons weight management is recommended; for individuals with MR this recommendation is critical. In the 1980s, effective weight management programs were developed for people with MR that took advantage of the best existent behavioral technology. Since then, there have been no additional developments in weight management for this population despite a compelling need. Due to the passage of time, these weight management programs from the 1980s are out of print. This project will use the best of the behavioral programs specifically designed for individuals with MR while incorporating recent advances in weight management. The primary aims of the study are developing, implementing, and evaluating the efficacy of a weight loss/maintenance program among obese adults with MR with effective strategies for improving nutrition by changing eating behaviors, increasing physical activity, involving parents as learning partners, and practicing weight-maintenance activities. To accomplish these aims we will develop a comprehensive individualized, weight-loss intervention and evaluate its effectiveness in a randomized field study (to be completed in Phase n). In Phase I, we will develop the initial sessions of the intervention and conduct a pilot study to determine skill acquisition and user acceptance. Innovative aspects of the proposed program include the strong emphasis on weight maintenance and the active involvement of a learning partner (parent). The program will be designed to not only teach specific weight loss/maintenance techniques to the individual with MR, but also to educate and motivate the learning partner to become actively involved in their family member's weight loss program and subsequent maintenance efforts. Research on obesity, due to its implication with cancer, heart disease, diabetes and a host of other disorders, is highly relevant to public health. The NIH Obesity Research Task Force has listed prevention and treatment of obesity through lifestyle modification as one of four major goals that need to be pursued by the public health community. By focusing on individuals with mental retardation, this program brings needed intervention tools for an underserved, high-risk population.