Managing Weight: What Do People with an Intellectual Disability Want from Mobile Technology?

Type Article

Journal Article

Authors

P. Smyth; C. McDowell; J. C. Leslie; G. Leader; M. Donnelly; E. Simpson; L. Skelly

Year of publication

2017

Publication/Journal

Stud Health Technol Inform

Volume

242

Issue

Pages

273-278

Abstract

Obesity is a significant health challenge. People with Intellectual Disability (ID) are particularly vulnerable to developing obesity. Mobile technology has been developed to support the management of weight and obesity in the form of apps, although not with people with an ID in mind. As a result existing off-the-shelf weight management apps currently available may not be functional in supporting weight reduction within this population. This paper presents the results of consultations with people with ID regarding weight management, comfort with mobile technology and desired characteristics in apps designed for people with ID that target weight management.