Abstract of G. Golan Sprinzak Lecture

OBESITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PEOPLE WITH

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

G. Golan Sprinzak, A. Rimmerman, Y. Latzer

Haifa University, Israel

Obesity is considered by the WHO as "the Pandemic of the 21st

Century". The relatively small number of medical and psychological

studies, revealed that obesity ratio amongst intellectually disabled

people is greater than in the general society. In spite of the fact that

obesity as quality of life effecting factor is in consensus, the relation

between obesity and Quality of Life among intellectually disabled has

not been researched. Quality of Life is recognized as a prime

consideration in connection with planning and evaluating services for

intellectually disabled. The purpose of this study was, accordingly, to

examine the relation between obesity and Quality of Life amongst

intellectually disabled in Israel and, should the aforesaid relation is

found in existence, whether gender, dwelling, employment, physical

activity and nutrition should be recognized as effecting factors. One

hundred and fifty six intellectually disabled employed in Rehabilitation

Employment Centers between the Haifa and Netanya area have been

sampled, while applying Cummins & Lau Questionnaire as Quality of

Life criteria, likewise through using additional instruments such as

Nutrition and Activity Knowledge Scale (NAKS), Health Questionnaire

on life habits and eating habits. Our study revealed that overweight

and obesity rates amongst intellectually disabled are greater than the

general population in Israel while no relation between obesity and

gender, dwelling intellectual disability level and Quality of Life has

been found. At the same token, a significant relation between dwelling

and physical activity, eating habits and access to medical services has

been reveled through our study.