Data from a national survey of more than 149,000 Americans including 23,000 participants with one or more forms of disability showed that 25% of adults with disabilities, compared to 16 per cent without any disability, ran a risk of obesity. Obesity was defined as having a Body Mass Index greater than 32.
The study also highlighted that adults with lower limb mobility difficulties and those who had not received exercise counselling had 2.5 times higher risk of obesity. Adults who were deaf or hard of hearing were also at high risk..Lead author Christina Wee, Ph. D., says, "Physicians should recognize that patients with disabilities face increased risks for obesity and address their weight concern.".
