Eat. Move. Lose.

Photo contributed by Bay Area Hospital

from TheWorldLink.com:
Want to lose weight this year? Take some advice from Coos Bay’s Gregory Crew.
Eat less. Exercise more.
And no grilled cheese for breakfast.
Following that simple regimen, Greg lost 60 pounds in five months. And he’s just getting started.
Greg, 37, has Down syndrome. It’s a genetic disorder that causes lifelong intellectual disability and, in some cases, chronic health problems. He’s a cheerful soul who loves board games, Power Rangers movies and karaoke. He’s a former Special Olympian.
But pneumonia put him the hospital for a week last year. He has relied on an oxygen tank since then, and last summer Greg’s doctor delivered a life-changing verdict. At 5-foot-3 and 283 pounds, Greg had to shed some weight if he hoped to be healthy.
Linda Devereux soon became a prominent figure in Greg’s life.

Local trainer pays goodness forward

from local 12 WKRC CBS Cincinnati:
CINCINNATI (Liz Bonis) -- A local fitness specialist who has quite a story to tell is now helping others in a very unique way.

Josh Harris, a person trainer, said, "I was 335 pounds and I was struggling with addictions and all kinds of stuff that were negatives. I was able to turn it around. I lost 165 pounds and that's how I ended up here."

Hard to believe when you look at Josh now that he used to look very different. How's he doing now?

"I am great, I am great. Life is good; God is good," Josh told Local 12.

Josh made a decision recently he would pay that goodness forward in a very unique way. He launched a personal training program at no charge to those with special needs. That's how Josh met Chad.

Chad Meyer said, "He helps me learn nutrition, and how to use the machines."

"Chad just came in here and he gave his best. And he just continually gives his best week in and week out," Josh said.

When it’s harder to lose weight

from Times of Malta.com:
World Down Syndrome Day, celebrated last month, promoted a healthier and active lifestyle. Rosette Gatt takes a look at how the physiological and behavioural aspects of this condition place these individuals at an increased risk of obesity.
Down syndrome, a genetic condition that causes delays in physical and intellectual development, occurs in one in every 800 live births and is not related to race, nationality, religion or social status.
The condition carries various health complications, but with appropriate medical care and an active lifestyle, most individuals can lead healthy lives. Nowadays the average life expectancy of individuals with Down syndrome is 55 years, with many living into their 60s and 70s.
Early childhood intervention, screening for medical problems, a sound and caring family environment, proper individualised education programmes and a supportive community can all improve the quality of life.
Unfortunately, recent research shows that between 30 and 50 per cent of children with Down syndrome are obese. Specific associated health and behavioural concerns in the individual with Down syndrome foster the development of obesity. A prevention and management plan thus needs to be mapped out for each individual to avoid negative consequences.
Weight gain in people with Down syndrome is a consequence of:
• physical characteristics, mainly short stature and hypotonic musculature also affecting ligaments, joints, hips, knees, pelvis and the spine;
• health concerns such as cardiac defects, thyroid function disorders, a decreased basal metabolic rate, gastro-intestinal tract anomalies, sleep apnea and sight defects;
• an inadequate diet because of dental problems, poor oral musculature and oral sensitivity;
• behavioural difficulties such as oppositional behaviour, impulsivity, negativity and non-compliance.

Farm Kings Q&A: Lisa King on Motivating Children with Down Syndrome

by Wendy Spicher from Great American Country GACTV:

On tonight’s all-new episode of Farm Kings at 9/8c, Joe tasks his mom Lisa and sister Bitty with running a fitness competition to inspire Freedom Farms’ loyal customers to buy local, eat healthy and get fit. The King family practices what they preach. The hardworking farm lifestyle comes naturally to them — but Lisa admits it’s sometimes a bit of a challenge to keep her youngest son, Ben, who has Down syndrome, active.

“Sometimes it’s very difficult to motivate children with Down syndrome,” says Lisa. “You give birth to nine other children who are very athletic, and then you have this child that you have to push and encourage. It’s a struggle for Ben.”
To make exercise fun, Lisa and Bitty started walking Ben down to the family pond with the incentive of feeding their ducks.
“Since we’ve started taking these walks with Ben, he’s lost about five pounds,” adds Lisa.”That just shows me that if I can inspire Ben to lose weight, I can inspire a whole group.” With Ben as her motivation, Lisa aims to inspire her family of customers to eat right and exercise. And she continues to find ways to challenge Ben to stay fit.
“I want to see [Ben] active,” says Lisa. “I want to see him healthy. I want him to outlive me.”

Efficacy of selected treadmill training programme on oxidative stress in adolescents with Down syndrome

from the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal and the World Health Organiziation:

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an electronic treadmill exercise training programme on malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker for lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in adolescents with Down syndrome. The study was carried out on 30 adolescent males with Down syndrome, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years, with 30 healthy subjects as a control group. Clinical examination, anthropometric measurements and determination of GPx activity and MDA before and after exercise were done. A treadmill training programme was performed for 12 weeks. Our data showed a significant increase in GPx activity and decrease in serum level of MDA in Down syndrome individuals after treadmill exercise for 3 months. Exercise promotion for adolescents with Down syndrome requires attention to motivators and facilitators of exercise adherence as it may limit risk of increased neurological consequences associated with oxidative stress and improve quality of life.

Man with Down Syndrome, father walk over 300 miles for awareness

from KSL.com Utah 5:

SALT LAKE CITY — A 25-year-old man with Down's syndrome and his father laced up their shoes and set out to achieve what they never thought possible — they are walking across the state.

The father and son team have made a goal to walk 300 miles from Washington County to Temple Square.
Dave Allen said it's been a long journey, but every step has been worth it.
"We're walking to Salt Lake, one foot in front of the other," Dave said.
The pair started in St. George and have already walked 297 miles. The route took them through Eureka and Saratoga Springs, among many other Utah cities.

Children, adults with disabilities learn to ride at iCan Bike camp

by Lauren Roth from the Orlando Sentinel:
Zane Paul, 16, had never learned to ride a bicycle. His father died of cancer when Zane was 4, and he was too scared to try riding after that.
When he was diagnosed with high-functioning autism at the end of third grade, his mother thought he would never learn to ride.
"I figured that was not the worst thing. He walks; he talks," said his mother, Debbie Medina.
But when she found out that the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida was sponsoring a week of iCan Bike camp, she signed up immediately.
The camp travels the country teaching bike-riding skills to disabled children and adults ages 8 and older. It first stopped in Orlando last year.
Monica Chandler brought her two older sons to camp then. This year, she brought her oldest back and enrolled her two youngest sons.
Tyler, 12, has Down syndrome; Ethan, 10, has Tourette's syndrome; and twins Wesley and Logan, 8, have developmental delays.
On Friday, the last day of camp, both Wesley and Logan were riding two-wheelers without a spotter.
Chandler's eyes widened as she saw Wesley's spotter back off for the first time. He pedaled solo across the parking lot at Freedom High School. "Good job, Wesley!" she shouted.
"Can you believe it?" she said to the other parents. "He was only on training wheels a few times, and now he's by himself."

Exercise has Cognitive Benefits for People with Down Syndrome

by Carola Finch from Examiner:
Researchers at the University of Arizona (ASU) are conducting research to determine whether assisted and intense exercise can improve the emotional, cognitive and motor functioning of adolescents with Down Syndrome (DS). The aunt of Marcus Santellan, a young man with DS, says that since he has participated in the exercise program, he is speaking in longer sentences and is more talkative in his home.
Marcus is one of eight participants who are working out on a bike three times a week at ASU’s campuses in Tempe and Downtown Phoenix. Eight participants have already been studied by researchers.
Katy Lichtsinn, an ASU kinesiology senior, cheers on and mentor Marcus. When she warned Marcus’s aunt that he may be tired after pedaling 110 rpm on the bike, Marcus responded: “I’m not tired but I can’t feel my legs.”
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal condition that affects approximately 400,000 children born in the U.S. DS children have physical characteristics and cognitive difficulties that limit their lifeskills. Only a few behavioral interventions have improved their ability to function.
Shannon D.R. Ringenbach, an associate professor of kinesiology in the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, intends to show that Assisted Cycle Therapy can potentially help improve the lives of people with DS.
Two years ago, Ringenbach conducted a smaller pilot study that adolescents with DS improved their manual dexterity and increased the speed at which they processed information. Researchers did not achieve the same results after one voluntary exercise session because people with DS have less strength and tend to be sedentary.
A specialized stationary bicycle with a motor was used so that participants could exercise at a faster rate. Approximately 15 ASU undergraduates and one doctoral student closely monitored the participants and encouraged them. Participants were tested intermittently for depression, and on their manual dexterity, ability to function, and cognitive skills.
“It’s really remarkable that by doing this kind of exercise, they begin to think faster,” says Ringenbach. “We believe they develop new brain cells. We don’t know yet how long it will last. But it has the potential to dramatically change the quality of their lives. With early intervention in children with Down syndrome, it’s possible it could improve their IQ.”
The families of the participants say that the adolescents are enjoying the program, talking and interacting more with others, and have improved their mood. Ringbach hopes to extend her research by creating a motorized bike for smaller children

La Trobe study needs volunteers for strength training

from Bendigo Advertiser by Hannah Knight:


Young adults with Down syndrome are being invited to take part in a community-based strength program.

Part of a La Trobe University research project, the initiative aims to investigate whether exercise and using weights in the gym is beneficial for people with Down syndrome.
 
Participants will be teamed with physiotherapy students and randomly allocated to an exercise test group or a social control group.
 
La Trobe University lecturer Dr Nora Shields said the program was already underway in Albury but Bendigo participants were needed.
 
“We’ve about 20 physiotherapy students all ready to go so we’re looking for about 12 young people with Down syndrome to get involved,” she said.
 
“We’re looking for male and female participants between the ages of 14 and 22.
 
“We cover all costs, including the gym membership for the exercise group and money for social activities.” Dr Shields said the study would explore links between strength and fitness and the ability to complete manual work.
 
“The kind of jobs that this group tends to do are manual tasks because of their cognitive impairment,” Dr Shields said.
 
“The problem with this is that their bodies aren’t really designed to do this because their muscles are a lot weaker than in people without Down syndrome.
 
“So what we’re looking at is, if we make them stronger, can they do more?”
 
Dr Shields said the physiotherapy mentors would help motivate the participants.
 
“We’re also looking at the fact that young people with Down syndrome are generally not engaging in enough physical activity to maintain good health,” she said.
 
“They can’t just walk in to a gym and jump on the treadmill, they need to be talked through it. It can be a really, really positive experience.”
 
For more information about the program contact Dr Nora Shields at La Trobe University.