Physical activity patterns were closely aligned between caregivers and individuals with Down syndrome, with caregivers who exercised regularly having up to thirteen-fold higher odds of having a physically active family member with DS, highlighting the importance of involving caregivers and family environments in lifestyle interventions.
Most individuals with Down syndrome exercised 1-3 times per week, with exercise frequency declining with age.
Caregiver exercise frequency was positively correlated with the exercise frequency of their family member with Down syndrome.
Caregivers who exercised regularly had substantially higher odds of having a physically active family member with Down syndrome.
Fried food consumption and higher snack frequency were independently associated with perceived obesity status in individuals with Down syndrome, while sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was not.
Caregivers favored exercise as a weight-loss strategy, while anti-obesity drugs were endorsed by only a minority and were more likely to be endorsed when obesity was perceived.
Caregiver confidence that their family member with Down syndrome would engage in healthier behaviors was strongly associated with higher physical activity levels and also associated with perceived obesity status.
The study was a large cross-sectional online survey of caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome conducted across Europe as part of the GO-DS21 project.
This research surveyed over 760 caregivers across Europe about the diet, physical activity, and weight management beliefs related to their family members with Down syndrome (DS). One of the most striking findings was that caregivers and their family members with DS tended to have very similar levels of physical activity — caregivers who exercised regularly were about 13 times more likely to also have a physically active family member with DS. This suggests that healthy habits within a household are shared, and that the caregiver's own lifestyle plays a major role in shaping the activity levels of the person with DS in their care. Exercise frequency also tended to decrease as individuals with DS got older, and males with DS were more likely to exercise daily than females. When it came to diet, overall consumption of energy-dense foods like fried foods and snacks was reported as relatively low, but higher intake of fried foods and more frequent snacking were associated with the caregiver perceiving their family member as obese. Interestingly, drinking sugar-sweetened beverages was not independently linked to perceived obesity in this sample. Regarding weight management strategies, caregivers strongly preferred exercise over medication — only about 1 in 10 caregivers supported the use of anti-obesity drugs, and this was more common when they already perceived their family member as obese. This research suggests that interventions aimed at improving the health and weight of people with Down syndrome should actively involve caregivers and the broader family environment, rather than focusing solely on the individual with DS. Since caregiver behavior appears closely linked to the activity levels of their family member, encouraging healthy habits in caregivers themselves could be a practical and effective way to improve outcomes for people with DS. The findings also highlight a need for formal nutritional and physical activity guidelines tailored specifically to individuals with Down syndrome.
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Upload Your LabsCahill T, Nalesso V, Clarke P, Martinez de Lagran M, Strydom A, Chan L, et al.. (2026). Caregiver-Associated Physical Activity Patterns, Dietary Behaviors and Interventional Beliefs in Individuals with Down Syndrome: Insights from a Large European Survey.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111692