Hiroko Ohwada1, Takeo Nakayama. 1. Department of Food Sciences, Ibaraki Christian University, Hitachi, Ibaraki 319-1295, Japan. h.ohwada@icc.ac.jp
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To obtain information regarding the actual methods used for nutritional assessment at institutions and schools in order to establish a nutritional assessment method for individuals with disabilities. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 1,080 selected institutions and schools for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and/or motor disabilities (MD). The response rate was 76.5%. RESULTS: The implementation rates for height and weight measurements were generally very high at both institutions and schools for individuals with ID and/or MD (85.5-100%), but those for other items were very low and varied among different disability types. The implementation rate for BMI was 17.9-71.9%, demonstrating that BMI was not widely used among institutions and schools for individuals with ID and/or MD. As for the methods for calculating percent body fat, a high percentage of institutions and schools for individuals with ID and/or MD indicated the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis for most disability types (60 - 77.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The percentages of institutions for individuals with ID and/or MD and of schools for individuals with ID and/or MD that implement nutritional assessment are very low, with variations among different disability types.
OBJECTIVES: To obtain information regarding the actual methods used for nutritional assessment at institutions and schools in order to establish a nutritional assessment method for individuals with disabilities. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 1,080 selected institutions and schools for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and/or motor disabilities (MD). The response rate was 76.5%. RESULTS: The implementation rates for height and weight measurements were generally very high at both institutions and schools for individuals with ID and/or MD (85.5-100%), but those for other items were very low and varied among different disability types. The implementation rate for BMI was 17.9-71.9%, demonstrating that BMI was not widely used among institutions and schools for individuals with ID and/or MD. As for the methods for calculating percent body fat, a high percentage of institutions and schools for individuals with ID and/or MD indicated the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis for most disability types (60 - 77.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The percentages of institutions for individuals with ID and/or MD and of schools for individuals with ID and/or MD that implement nutritional assessment are very low, with variations among different disability types.