Barriers to Exercise and Nutrition for Special Olympics Athletes

Introduction. People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have higher rates of obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, and metabolic disease than the national average. Special Olympics Vermont (SOVT) offers sports training and competition for children and adults throughout the year, however; during the off-seasons many SOVT athletes do not follow a structured exercise and nutrition program. This project aimed to identify barriers and develop recommendations for an off-season exercise and nutrition program for SOVT athletes.

Methods. We developed a questionnaire to investigate exercise and nutrition habits, barriers, and perceived community support. Fifty-nine athletes (36 males, 23 females) were interviewed during a SOVT sponsored soccer tournament.

Results. A large majority of these athletes (70%) had BMI values classified as overweight or obese. Identifiable barriers included transportation (37%) and not having a place at home to exercise (42%). Many athletes reported having someone who helps them exercise; however, 63% of athletes wanted more exercise information. Similarly, most athletes had someone to assist them with healthy eating, yet 85% wanted more information about nutrition. While most athletes felt included in their community, only 39% acknowledged daily inclusion. Almost every athlete (95%) expressed willingness to participate in a SOVT program designed to improve exercise and eating habits.

Conclusion. This research provides an evidence-based framework for future interventions in exercise and nutrition programming. Recommendations include: identifying areas within the home to exercise, including family members in nutrition and exercise education, further promoting community involvement, and creating opportunities for socialization to motivate teammates during the off-season.