Health Promotion and LD

[ankatbar]

I'm in need of some help. I'm a RNLD and work with 10 clients (all mild learning disability, some with mental health issues aswell) - 4 of which are very overweight but any attempts we have made to help them understand the importance of health promotion is not working. We are able to control to an extent the content of the set meals each day but it's the snaacking in between; fizzy pop etc coupled with little or no exercise, and even less motivation. Any ideas; projects etc that have seen good results. Thanks.

[Rie]

Hi! would offering a small prize to the individual who has lost most weight each time clients weigh in, provide motivation and reinforcement for weight loss. With maybe a larger prize for the one who losses most weight over a set period of time. Hope this idea is helpfull. Rie.

[LydiaNN]

Are your students adults? If they're children, maybe family education would help. I don't really know what the answer is. I'm just about beside myself with frustration at my own sister, who has an obese 10 year old son and a morbidly obese 8 year daughter, and won't keep junk food out of her house. My niece's pediatrician made a referral to an eating disorder program for her, and even went out of his way to find a program to pay for it since they're underinsured. The reason my sister and brother-in-law didn't take my niece to the clinic? They were too tired! IMHO, they're lucky the ped doesn't turn them in for medical neglect. Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack your thread! I just meant to commisserate- I definitely understand your frustration!

[Linda Goddard]

I'm in need of some help. I'm a RNLD and work with 10 clients (all mild learning disability, some with mental health issues aswell) - 4 of which are very overweight but any attempts we have made to help them understand the importance of health promotion is not working. We are able to control to an extent the content of the set meals each day but it's the snaacking in between; fizzy pop etc coupled with little or no exercise, and even less motivation. Any ideas; projects etc that have seen good results. Thanks.

Use of photos or videos reflecting on size, self image, sometimes people with disabilities don't have the same body image as those without and may not see that they have a problem. Discussion re: other people's size, diet, healthy living can altogether educate the person.