Improving Beverage Choice in Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Implementation of a Token Reinforcement System in a Community Residential Setting.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- May, Brandon K., ; Britwum, Kwadwo; Nicol, Ginger E.
- Source
- Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders; Apr2022, Vol. 52 Issue 4, p1523-1535, 13p, 1 Black and White Photograph, 1 Diagram, 4 Charts, 4 Graphs
- Subject
- Developmental disabilities
Communities
Intellect
Social support
Ingestion
Food preferences
Residential care
People with intellectual disabilities
- Language
- ISSN
- 01623257
Individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) are twice as likely to have obesity than non-disabled individuals. Replacing the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) with water has many health benefits, including weight reduction. In this study, a token reinforcement system was implemented to increase water consumption and decrease the consumption of SSBs with 14 adult participants with DD living in a community-based independent supported living (ISL) center. Token reinforcement reduced the consumption of SSBs, with associated reductions in calorie consumption and body weight. Findings are especially important for treatment settings where resources for individualized meal planning and staffing to support comprehensive behavioral interventions may be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]