Physical Activity Patterns in Adolescents and Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Limited descriptive epidemiology data on physical activity (PA) in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID).
• Need for understanding PA and sedentary time in ID for clinical trial eligibility (PA promotion, weight loss).

Purpose of the Study:

• To report device-measured PA and sedentary time in individuals with ID (ages 10-70).
• To examine PA patterns by diagnosis, time of day, day of week, and season.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study using baseline accelerometer data from individuals with ID in clinical trials.
• Utilized Troiano and Freedson cut-points for PA and sedentary time classification.
• Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon rank sum, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and mixed-effects linear regressions.

Main Results:

• 330 individuals with ID (57% female) had valid accelerometer data.
• Average moderate-to-vigorous PA was 14 ± 18 min/day.
• PA was significantly lower on weekends, mornings, and evenings compared to weekdays and afternoons.

Conclusions:

• PA promotion is needed for individuals with ID, especially during non-school/work hours (mornings, evenings, weekends).
• Future research should investigate PA patterns in normal-weight adolescents and adults with ID engaged in regular physical activity programs.