I’ ve noticed positive improvements in their confidence, motivation and their generally more positive outlook since starting as part of the group.” support of our multidisciplinary team of a health facilitator, OTs, physiotherapists, nurses, speech and language assistant and health support workers.
I’ ve noticed positive improvements in their confidence, motivation and their generally more positive outlook since starting as part of the group.” support of our multidisciplinary team of a health facilitator, OTs, physiotherapists, nurses, speech and language assistant and health support workers.
We started by thinking about who would benefit most from these sessions. Our main focus was on people with a mild learning disability who are living with obesity or at risk of it. At the same time, we wanted to keep things flexible and welcoming, so we didn’ t restrict participation only to those who fit that description.
We took steps, through leaflets, letters and word-of-mouth, to make sure that people with a learning disability, along with their support workers and families, really understood what the programme was about. We wanted them to feel clear on the goals, comfortable asking questions, and confident about what to expect and how to prepare.
For example, we created‘ easy-read’ resources explaining the programme and what people should wear and bring to the sessions. We also invited those our team already works with, who later signed up, to meet up before the start of the exercise sessions.
Staff were then able to learn more about the participants’ interests, including in music and exercise, to help everyone get to know one another and, going forward, to enable the instructors to incorporate these interests into the sessions.
Group activities such as this one can be used to provide opportunities for social interaction and the majority of participants told us they’ d never been to an exercise class before.
Before the eight-week trial began, we asked participants, along with their carers, support workers, and healthcare staff, to share their views in a questionnaire. Hearing directly from them about behaviours and healthcare needs gave us the insight we needed to shape a programme that truly fit the people taking part.
Typical session structure
Having weekly weigh-ins, in a confidential setting, and writing this down for each individual in a logbook helped people to monitor their respective progress, while staff made a weekly telephone call to participants and their family or carers to enable better attendance.
Each session was different; we alternated dance, boxing, cycling, functional bar and chair exercises, splitting off occasionally into smaller groups to allow for an even more personalised approach.
At the end of each session, prior to us recording notes for each participant, people gathered to reflect on the session and to take part in some learning on healthy eating. They each also made a personal commitment for the following week, to try and consider healthy lifestyle changes.
Challenges and feedback
Of course, we faced challenges along the way. Sometimes it was about finding the right level for the exercises, and other times it was about supporting people through social or emotional difficulties and keeping everyone engaged.
By holding regular staff meetings, and talking directly with participants, we were able to spot these issues early on and make adjustments as necessary.
Drawing on Kaplan’ s work( 1988), I was reminded that activities can be adapted in many ways: by adjusting their complexity, introducing something more or less familiar, or shifting how predictable they are.
This gave me a framework for giving feedback after the session, and suggesting ways to adapt
30 OTnews September 2025