Cooking Skills to Improve Long-Term Weight Loss in Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Summary

The goal of this study is to see if adding hands-on cooking classes to a weight management program (called Chef-ID) helps young adults with intellectual disabilities lose more weight and keep it off compared to a standard weight loss program. The study will last 24 months and include three phases: 6 months of active support, 12 months of maintenance, and 6 months with no contact. The investigators will look at how much weight participants lose over the first 18 months. Changes in cooking skills, body fat, health markers (like blood pressure and cholesterol), daily living skills, and caregiver stress will be tracked. Finally, factors that might help or prevent weight loss, and how changes in weight and body fat are linked to overall health will be explored. This research will help inform on how to better support healthy lifestyles for people with intellectual disabilities.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of mild-to-moderate intellectual disability (ID).
2. 18-35 years of age.
3. BMI \>24.9, Body weight \<350lbs.
4. Sufficient functional ability to understand directions, communicate preferences, e.g., foods, wants, and can communicate through spoken language e.g., request more to eat/drink, asks for assistance with food preparation.
5. Living at home with a parent/guardian, or in a supported living environment with a caregiver who assists with food shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation and agrees to serve as a study partner.
6. Plan to attend all study required visits over the next 24 mos.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unable to participate in PA.
2. Insulin dependent diabetes as this condition requires medical monitoring beyond the scope of this study.
3. Participation in a weight management program involving diet, PA, or pharmacotherapy in the past 6 mos.
4. Diagnosis of Prader-Willi Syndrome.
5. Pregnancy during the previous 6 mos., currently lactating or planned pregnancy in the following 24 mos. Participants who become pregnant will be removed from the study and referred to appropriate agencies for consultation.
6. Serious medical risk, e.g., cancer, recent heart attack, stroke, angioplasty as determined by the PCP.
7. Unwilling to be randomized.
8. Unable to participate in small group, in-person instruction.
9. Use of wheelchair or power chair as primary locomotion.

Conditions3

Locations1 site

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