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Comparative Study
. 2019 May 18;16(10):1761.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101761.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Active and Non-Active Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Comparative Study

Guillermo R Oviedo  1   2 , Nauris Tamulevicius  3 , Myriam Guerra-Balic  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Active and Non-Active Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Comparative Study

Guillermo R Oviedo et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

This study describes and compares physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary time (ST) of active (AG) and a non-active (NAG) groups of adults with intellectual disability (ID) versus a group of adults without ID. Thirty-seven participants from the AG, 29 from the NAG, and 31 adults without ID participated in this study. Height and weight were obtained to calculate body mass index (BMI). PA levels and ST were assessed with GT3X Actigraph accelerometers for 7 days. Results revealed that the AG engaged in higher values of moderate to vigorous PA compared with the NAG (all p < 0.05), but were similar to adults without ID. Adults without ID performed less ST and more light PA than the ID groups (all p < 0.05). The participants of the AG did not demonstrate less ST than the NAG. It is concerning that adults with ID (AG or NAG) are spending a higher time in ST and less time in light PA than adults without ID. Our results suggest that integrated, well-designed PA programmes into the ID population workdays can lead to increased PA levels. Nevertheless, these interventions and exercise programmes implemented for adults with ID should be tailored to also reduce ST.

Keywords: accelerometer; adults; intellectual disability; physical activity; sedentary lifestyle.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time spent in sedentary time throughout the week. 1 (Monday); 2 (Tuesday); 3 (Wednesday); 4 (Thursday); 5 (Friday); 6 (Saturday); 7 (Sunday). Values are means (standard error); n = 35 for AG (active group); n = 28 for NAG (non-active group); n = 31 for adults without ID. * Significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between adults without ID vs. AG; ** Significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between adults without ID vs. NAG.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Time spent in light physical activity throughout the week. 1 (Monday); 2 (Tuesday); 3 (Wednesday); 4 (Thursday); 5 (Friday); 6 (Saturday); 7 (Sunday). Values are means (standard error); n = 35 for AG (active group); n = 28 for NAG (non-active group); n = 31 for adults without ID. * Significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between adults without ID vs. AG; ** Significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between adults without ID vs. NAG.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity throughout the week. 1 (Monday); 2 (Tuesday); 3 (Wednesday); 4 (Thursday); 5 (Friday); 6 (Saturday); 7 (Sunday). Values are means (standard error); n = 35 for AG (active group); n = 28 for NAG (non-active group); n = 31 for adults without ID. *** Significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between AG vs. NAG.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Total number of participants meeting or not meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) global recommendations on PA for health (X2 = 9.25; p = 0.010).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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