Intellectually disabled need health ed

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say adults with intellectual disabilities -- mental retardation -- need health education.

Lead researcher Amy Bodde, a doctoral candidate at Indiana University in Bloomington, says eight half-hour classes increased the participants' general knowledge of health topics by 5 percent and their knowledge of physical activity guidelines by 31 percent.

"Many people with intellectual disabilities haven't had general health education," Bodde said in a statement. "They are living more and more independent lives but they are not being educated to make good decisions about their health."

The study involved 42 men and women ages 19-62, who took classes twice a week for four weeks at an agency that provides residential, occupational and leisure services to people with intellectual disabilities.

The classes included written material, pictures, role playing and interactive video teaching strategies.