Former Olympian Helps People With Intellectual and Physical Disabilities Fight Obesity

Frank Mensah is a first generation Ghanaian-American who represented Ghana at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. improving the mental and physical health of people with disabilities.

Mr. Mensah held an interview to discuss how he is doing his part to improve the health and lives of people with disabilities. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Of course

More than a third of adults, or 72 million people in the United States, are considered obese according to the CDC and the National Center for Health Statistics. The rates among adults and children with intellectual or physical disabilities are much higher than among adults of the same age. 20% of children between the ages of 10-17 with mental or physical problems are considered “obese,” compared to 15% of children of the same age. The CDC report states that obesity not only affects a person’s health, but also results in additional medical costs of approximately $1,429 per person per year. These costs are higher for people with mental and physical disabilities.

For (bes) The Culture: What made you want to start this job?

Frank Mensah: I have been a personal trainer for over twenty years with my company ‘Olympic Fit’ and when I met my friend Diane Campione, she encouraged me to use my skills to help adults, youth, and children with disabilities. I immediately started researching and eventually created the ‘Triumph Program’ for various mental and physical groups to improve their health and overall quality of life. The program is community-based and is open to people who work as people, ambulatory drivers, and non-ambulators.

Getting to the Root

Research linking the causes of obesity and various disabilities is limited. Scientific research into this complex relationship should be further explored and supported. Most scientific research in this area examines the link between obesity and disability, not the other way around. The CDC and AAHD have both identified risk factors for obesity among individuals with neurodivergent disorders and physical inactivity, including:

• Lack of access to nutritious food
• Medicines that cause appetite changes, weight loss, or weight gain
• lack of accessible facilities (eg, roads, parks, and exercise equipment) that can facilitate physical activity.
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing food, or its taste or texture
• lack of resources (eg, money, transportation, and support from family, friends, neighbors, and community members).
• lack of accessible facilities (eg, roads, parks, and exercise equipment) that can facilitate physical activity.

Frank is using his knowledge and connections to address some of the issues listed below:

For (bes) The Culture: What is the source of obesity among neurodivergent, ambulatory, and non-ambulatory populations?

Frank Mensah: It comes down to medication, metabolism, and whether the person is ambulatory or not. Movement is important to health no matter how you do it, and it’s something many of us take for granted.

For (bes) The Culture: What other initiatives are you involved in in the field of neurodiversity?

Frank Mensah: I recently partnered with three other entrepreneurs (Maria and George Casale, and Diane Campione) in Staten Island to create ‘The Fusion Programs’, a 4,800-square-foot facility in Dongan Hills. We offer classes in technology, coding, fitness, culinary arts, sports, socialization, and other non-core courses.

Although there are opportunities for more research in this area, some people are leading the effort. A study paper from the University of Hertfordshire suggests four important ways to support obese people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Focusing on nutrition, increasing energy expenditure, improving health and education, together with a multidisciplinary team working with the individual.

Communication and Respect for Diversity

When discussing ways to improve the health and well-being of people with disabilities, we cannot ignore the significant differences between people with disabilities. Forbes contributor Andrew Pulrang outlines four ways to transform people with disabilities including:

1. Kind of disabled
2. Profile of a person with a disability
3. A combination of identities and experiences
4. Paradigms and studies

For a deeper understanding of this topic, read his article on the subject in depth.

Forbes The Culture: How do you ensure that everyone’s experiences and disabilities are recognized and addressed? Do you put everyone into small groups?

Frank Mensah: No, no! I fully understand that everyone is not a monolith or that they share the same characteristics. When my team and I connect with our customers we connect all of our relationships and knowledge to that person. Often our client’s caregiver, parent, or caregiver tells us how to handle them and what the situation is. We respect everyone as a unique person who is trying to improve their life in some way and help them become productive in society.

If you would like to help a family or a relative with an intellectual or physical disability there are ways you can help and some things to consider. Your loved one’s health is a multifaceted process that includes patient collaboration, primary caregiver, primary care physician, exercise nurse, dietician, speech and language, and mental and emotional needs from learning disability services. This method ensures that the program is well organized. The person’s mental and physical abilities must also be considered along with their consent to help. There are laws and policies that are put in place to ensure a better life and protect the rights of people with disabilities. You can contact a local Disability Nurse who has received appropriate training or a local disability support service for further assistance.