Body weight improvements associated with a nutritional intervention for adults with IDD living in group homes: A randomized controlled trial

Background. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience higher rates of overweight and obesity (OW/OB) compared to their neurotypical peers. For community-dwelling adults with IDD living in group homes, high staff turnover and a lack of food preparation and nutrition training among staff can exacerbate weight issues. This study explores how the MENU-AIDDs nutritional intervention, which is not a weight loss program but was developed specifically to address the nutritional needs of adults with IDD living in group home settings, effects body weight of OW/OB adults with IDD. Methods. Group homes in New York (n = 13) and North Carolina (n = 15) were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control condition. Treatment homes received training on the MENU-AIDDs system and implemented the program in their homes. Control homes continued their regular food services. Weight data were collected from residents at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Results. NY OW/OB treatment home residents lost significantly more weight and had reductions in functional limitations due to weight compared to their control home peers. In NC, however, OW/OB treatment home residents lost weight, but did not differ significantly from their control home peers. Conclusion. This study found mixed results related to MENU-AIDDs' effect on changes in body weight among OW/OB adults with IDD. We attribute these mixed findings to cultural differences, rurality, and program fidelity issues. Future research is needed to understand these differences and make appropriate modifications to the MENU-AIDDs intervention.