‘Get Healthy!’ A physical activity and nutrition program for older adults with intellectual disability: pilot study protocol

BACKGROUND: Older adults with intellectual disability have high rates of lifestyle-related illness yet remain poorly engaged in physical activity and nutrition interventions. There is a need to clarify what types of healthy lifestyle interventions are feasible and effective to implement in this population and how outcome measures can best be tracked. This paper describes the pilot feasibility study protocol for implementing a 12-week physical activity and healthy eating program, ‘Get Healthy!’ with older adults with intellectual disability. METHODS: The primary study aims are to assess the feasibility of implementing and monitoring the ‘Get Healthy!’ program with adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability, aged 40 years and over, and their carers. Secondary study aims are to assess the impact of the intervention across the following parametres: body mass index, waist circumference, cardiovascular fitness, physical activity (amount and intensity) and sedentary behaviours, resting blood pressure, functional strength/capacity, dietary intake (energy intake, food group consumption and diet quality), dietary and physical activity knowledge, and quality of life. Between 8 and 10 participants in total will be recruited into the 12-week program that will be run in metropolitan NSW, Australia. A combination of objective and subjective measures will be used to assess program feasibility and impact at set timepoints (baseline, mid and end-program). DISCUSSION: Results from the feasibility pilot will be used to refine the study methodology and ‘Get Healthy!’ program content for future use in a sufficiently powered trial. Findings may be of interest to a broad range of disability and allied health workers engaged in supporting and monitoring healthy lifestyle change in adults with intellectual disability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN: ACTRN12618000349246. Registered March 8, 2018- Retrospectively registered, UTN: U1111-1209-3132.