Down Syndrome Awareness Month – October 26, 2025

Did you know? There are many factors that can affect the weight of a person with Down syndrome.

There is a growing appreciation for the complexity of weight management in people with and without Down syndrome. While “eat right and exercise” used to be the main advice for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, we now know that there are many additional factors that can affect weight, including (but not limited to): 

• sleep
• hormones
• metabolic rate
• stress
• medications
• health conditions

Making healthy lifestyle choices – such as eating unprocessed or minimally processed foods, drinking plenty of water, being active, getting good sleep, and managing stress – is important not only for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight but also for overall health and well-being. 

Brian Chicoine, MD, provides more information in this article called Weight Management in Adults with Down Syndrome.