A Systematic Review of Health Promotion Programs to Improve Nutrition for People with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Purpose of review: To investigate the type and effectiveness of health promotion programs designed to improve nutrition for people with intellectual disability. This review also sought to highlight gaps in the evidence by mapping interventions to the socio-ecological model.

Recent findings: To date, reviews on health promotion programs for people with intellectual disability have focused on individualised weight management interventions and behaviour change techniques. No reviews have focused solely on nutrition or considered a broader range of interventions and policies targeted beyond the individual. This review found that health promotion interventions to date were predominantly at the individual level of the socio-ecological model and of varying effectiveness. Of the non-individually focused interventions, those targeting the physical environment or considering multiple socio-ecological levels achieved the greatest improvements in nutrition outcomes. Nutrition and obesity prevention research and policy need to include intellectual disability as part of equity considerations, while intellectual disability policy needs to consider the broader food environment.

Keywords: Equity; Health promotion; Intellectual disability; Nutrition; Obesity; Socio-ecological model.