Compared to the general population, higher prevalence of underweight and obesity among individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) has been reported in the U.S. However, limited information is available on the prevalence of underweight and obesity among individuals with ID in Korea. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of underweight and obesity among Korean individuals with ID and compare these data with existing national norms.
Method
Body Mass Index (BMI) levels of 1,648 children and adults with ID were computed based on the height and weight information from their schools and local agencies. The participants, ages 6 to 40 years (M = 14.8 years, SD = 5.0 years), included 476 females and 1,171 males. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVAs were employed to examine differences of BMI levels among individuals in different age groups (6-12 years, 13-19 years, and 20-40 years), education settings (regular classroom, self-contained classroom, and special schools) and degrees of ID (mild, moderate, severe, and profound).
Analysis/Results
The overall incidence of underweight (BMI < 18.50), overweight (BMI ≥ 25) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) were 40.5%, 13.3% and 3.9% of the participants, respectively. The overall average of BMI levels was 20.32, with 17.74 for the participants aged 6-12 years, 21.61 for the participants aged 13-19 years and 21.90 for those aged 20-40 years. The results of one-way ANOVAs and Turkey HSD tests indicate that 1) BMI levels of the participants aged 6-12 years were significantly lower than the other age groups (p < .001), and 2) participants with profound ID (M = 18.24, SD = 3.15) had significantly lower BMI levels than those with severe ID (M = 23.20, SD = 5.12) (p < .05). The average BMI of the participants in this study was lower than population norms reported in Korea national health and nutrition surveys (1995-2001).
Conclusions
The findings suggest that overweight and obesity may not be major concerns of Korean persons with ID unlike individuals with ID in U.S. Further investigation related to the risk factors and prevention of underweight among children with ID in Korea is recommended. Furthermore, future studies need to examine environmental factors and behavioral variables affecting underweight and obesity among individuals with ID in different countries.
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