Impact of Special Olympics Programming
Health Promotion Pilot Programs Evaluation: Improving Athletes' Health
Studies have increasingly documented low levels of physical activity and an increase in obesity among adults with intellectual disabilities in the United States and many other countries. Health screenings conducted during the 2003 and 2005 Special Olympics World Games showed that many of the athletes were overweight or obese. Moreover, surveys of Special Olympics coaches from all over the world provide a consensus that athletes are in need of fitness training above and beyond what they receive from their sports practices.
In 2002, Special Olympics started locally-based Health Promotion pilot programs for athletes that lasted for multiple weeks. The activities in these pilot programs extended beyond the regular Special Olympics sports and training activities. Six pilot programs in the U.S. and one in Latin America were initiated to test different strategies aimed at improving physical fitness and lifestyle choices/habits and to determine if there could be effective predictors of program success.
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Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, leading to enhanced sports experience and improved well-being. Health Promotion is one of the six Healthy Athletes disciplines. |
The purpose of this Health Promotion Pilot Programs Evaluation report (Adobe PDF, 287K) is to present both quantitative and qualitative findings. Overall, although the projects had many different approaches, many positive psychosocial and health benefits emerged across the sites. The evaluation showed successes across different domains, including:
- improved perceived health
- reduction in body weight
- improved self-confidence
- enhanced attitudes toward physical activity
- increased fiber intake, and
- decreased barriers.
Additionally, findings showed significant changes in upper body and lower body muscle strength and endurance and aerobic fitness at a site that incorporated an 8-week structured circuit training program for athletes.
The evaluation was prepared by Special Olympics, the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago.
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