Linda Bandini - Healthy Weight Research Network For With Autism & Developmental Disabilities
Linda Bandini - Healthy Weight Research Network For With Autism & Developmental Disabilities
Linda Bandini - Healthy Weight Research Network For With Autism & Developmental Disabilities
1 UMass
1,2
PhD ;
Carol Curtin,
1
MSW ;
Aviva Must,
3
PhD
Medical School/E.K. Shriver Center; 2Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College 3 Tufts University School of Medicine;
MISSION
NETWORK ACTIVITIES
RESEARCH AGENDA
The HWRN-ASD/DD fulfills its interdisciplinary research
agenda by:
engaging in formative research
conducting pilot and feasibility and/or acceptability
studies
developing collaborative relationships to leverage
extramural funding for interdisciplinary research.
The Research Agenda focuses on:
childrens eating patterns and behaviors
family practices around food/mealtimes
physical activity
sedentary behavior patterns
how school and community-based organizations exert
influence on childrens food intake and physical
activity
how these environments may be modified to promote
healthy weight in youth
how prevention or intervention programs can be
developed, adapted, and delivered
HWRN
MEMBERS &
ADVISORS
PILOT STUDIES
Secondary data analysis on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in youth with ASD and intellectual
developmental disabilities
HWRN Secondary Data Analysis Core
Data on effective strategies for increasing physical activity (PA) in adolescents with IDD is extremely limited.
This is a 12-week pilot study to explore using technology to deliver a physical activity program to 30
adolescents with IDD using video conferencing via a tablet computer. All participants will be provided with a
tablet computer and a Fitbit wireless PA monitor to assess PA during the exercise sessions and any equipment
(resistance bands, hand weights) needed for the intervention. Three weekly 30-minute PA sessions, focusing on
both cardiovascular and strength training, will be delivered to groups of five adolescents with IDD in their
homes by video conference on a tablet computer. The primary aim will be assess the feasibility of delivering
a group-based PA intervention, conducted via video conferencing on a tablet computer, in a sample of
adolescents with IDD. The secondary aims are to: 1) assess the quality of weekly activity accumulated during
the group exercise sessions, using data from the Fitbit activity monitor. It is expected participants will obtain
at least 20 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA at each lesson, and 2) assess participants attitudes toward
PA using two simple questionnaires administered at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention. It is
expected that attitude and self-efficacy toward PA will improve across the 12-week intervention.
Purpose: To estimate obesity prevalence in children with ASD and ID and to assess how weight status is
influenced by child age, co-morbidities, and modifiable risk factors associated with mealtimes and physical
activity.
Used the 2011-2012 wave of the National Survey of Childrens Health, a nationally representative
survey conducted by the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics.
95,677 parent interviews were completed from February 2011 through June 2012
Parents were interviewed about their childs health. Parents reported height, weight, child age, comorbidities, and modifiable risk factors associated with mealtimes and physical activity.
Abstract on analyses were presented at the Obesity Society in November 2014
One paper has been submitted to BMC Pediatrics, Prevalence of obesity in children with ASD
Second paper on prevalence of obesity in children with ID is in preparation.
Peer-reviewed articles
Curtin, C. Hubbard, K., Anderson, S.E., E. Mick, A. Must, L.G. Bandini (in press) Food Selectivity, mealtime behavior
problems, spousal stress, and family food choices in children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder" Journal of
Autism and Developmental Disorders
Curtin, C., Bandini, L.G., Must, A., Phillips, S. Maslin, M.C.T., Lo, C., Gleason, J.M., Fleming, R.K., Stanish, H.I. (in press)
Including youth with intellectual disabilities in health promotion research: development and reliability of a structured
interview to assess the correlates of physical activity among youth. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
Stanish, H.I., Curtin, C., Must, A., Phillips, S. Maslin, M.C.T., Bandini, L.G. (in press) Comparison of enjoyment, barriers,
and beliefs about physical activity among adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder. Adapted Physical
Activity Quarterly.
Stanish, H.I., Curtin, C., Must, A., Phillips, S., Maslin, M.C.T., Bandini, L.G. (in press) Physical activity enjoyment, perceived
barriers, and beliefs among adolescents with and without intellectual disabilities, Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
PMID: 25830443
Must, M., Curtin, C., Hubbard, K., Sikich, L. Bedford, J., Bandini, L.G. (2014) Obesity prevention for children with
developmental disabilities. Current Obesity Reports, 3:156-170
Abstracts/papers/presentations national meetings
Healthy Weight Research Network for Children with ASD/DD, The CAAI virtual poster symposium, July 2014
Healthy Weight Research Network. ATN/AIR-P Advances in Autism Research & Care Webinar, July 15, 2014.
Healthy Weight Research Network for Children with ASD/DD, AUCD 2014 Conference, Washington DC, November 11,
2014
Establishing a Research Network Agenda for Promoting Healthy Weight among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
and Developmental Disabilities (ASD/DD) American Public Health Association (APHA), New Orleans, LA, November
2014,
The Obesity Society, November 2014, in Boston, MA:
o Elevated prevalence of obesity among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): the disparity increases across
pre-adolescent and adolescent ages
o Elevated prevalence of obesity among children with intellectual disabilities (ID): the disparity increases across preadolescent and adolescent ages
o A research gap: obesity in children with autism and other developmental disabilities
Obesity As a Modifiable Risk Factor in the Treatment of Feeding Problems in Children with ASD, as part of the panel
entitled, "You Want Me to Eat What? Novel Treatment Approaches for Food Selectivity and Feeding Problems in
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder," 2015 International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), May 2015, Salt Lake
City, Utah