Cooking Skills to Improve Long-Term Weight Loss in Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities
The goal of this study is to see if adding hands-on cooking classes to a weight management program (called Chef-ID) helps young adults with intellectual disabilities lose more weight and keep it off compared to a standard weight loss program. The study will last 24 months and include three phases: 6 months of active support, 12 months of maintenance, and 6 months with no contact. The investigators will look at how much weight participants lose over the first 18 months. Changes in cooking skills, body fat, health markers (like blood pressure and cholesterol), daily living skills, and caregiver stress will be tracked. Finally, factors that might help or prevent weight loss, and how changes in weight and body fat are linked to overall health will be explored. This research will help inform on how to better support healthy lifestyles for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Diagnosis of mild-to-moderate intellectual disability (ID).
• 18-35 years of age.
• BMI \>24.9, Body weight \<350lbs.
• Sufficient functional ability to understand directions, communicate preferences, e.g., foods, wants, and can communicate through spoken language e.g., request more to eat/drink, asks for assistance with food preparation.
• Living at home with a parent/guardian, or in a supported living environment with a caregiver who assists with food shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation and agrees to serve as a study partner.
• Plan to attend all study required visits over the next 24 mos.