Weight Management is Important in the Life of Mentally Retarded Children

Obesity and weight loss programs continue to be a leading focus of many consumer health programs across the United States. For many individuals, the complications associated weight gain, obesity and weight management are often related to lack of diet and exercise.

For some individuals, however, there is an increased risk for developing obesity simply due to metabolic disorders or complications associated with a health condition. Individuals who suffer from mental retardation are at a unique disadvantage, often gaining weight, living with obesity and rarely finding the right balance for weight management.

As the parent of child who is mentally retarded, it is important to understand the issues with regard to weight management. With the greatest obesity found in the mentally retarded who are classified as mild to moderate, parents are often surprised to learn of the health risk in their disabled child. In addition, the greatest risk for your child's obesity development will most likely occur in your home as many children, who are classified as mentally retarded and living in institutions, experience significantly less frequency of weight gain and obesity.

In an effort to teach your child the proper way to manage weight, your healthcare professional may want to refer you and your child to a nutritionist who specializes in the dietary management of those who are mentally retarded. Because a combination approach to weight management, diet and exercise is important to your child's healthy weight maintenance, a nutritionist with expertise in the mentally retarded will be your best source of information.

One aspect of dietary management that you will quickly come to learn is the inhibition of independence. While many parents are encouraged to promote independent activity and thinking in their mild to moderately mentally retarded child, when it comes to food selection and dietary management, mentally retarded children must be closely supervised. Lacking impulse control and reasoning, a mentally retarded child can quickly gain weight simply by making food choices based on color and texture, often choosing those that are high in fats and sugar.

As with any health issue affecting a mentally retarded child, is important to reach out to your resources and gather as much information as possible about your child's care. While weight gain is inevitable, it can be controlled, to some extent, with close supervision. With mild to moderate mentally retarded children exhibiting the greatest risk for weight gain, often due to greater independence and flexibility at home, parents of these children often require the guidance of nutritionists more so than parents of severely mentally retarded children. If your child suffers from mental retardation, ask your child's physician about the recommendations for nutritional counseling.