Feeding behavior and dietary intake of male children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A case‐control study

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with restrictive or repetitive behaviors and difficulties with verbal and interpersonal communication, in which some problems involving nutrition may be present. This study aims to evaluate dietary intake and identify feeding behavioral problems in male children and adolescents with ASD when compared to matched controls, as well as parents or caregivers' feelings about strategies for dealing with eating problems. A 3-day food record was performed and nutrient intake was compared to the Dietary Reference Intake according to age. To evaluate children feeding behavior and parents or caregivers' feelings, the Behavior Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFA) was used. ASD patients consumed in average more calories than controls (though with a high patient's frequency above and below calorie range references), had a limited food repertoire, high prevalence of children with inadequate calcium, sodium, iron vitamin B5, folate, and vitamin C intake. BPFA scores were also higher in the ASD group when compared to controls for all frequencies (child behavior, parents and total). These findings lead us to endorse the importance of evaluating feeding problems in the clinical routine, considering also the singular features of the patients.

Association among obesity, overweight and autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Fifteen studies were published between 2010 and 2016 9,24–37 . Four studies were case-control 24,27,31,33 and eleven studies were cross-section 9,25,26,28–30,32,34–37 . The studies encompassed a total of 49,937,078 participants and 1,045,538 individuals with ASD.…”

“…The studies encompassed a total of 49,937,078 participants and 1,045,538 individuals with ASD. Ten studies were carried out in the United States 24–27,29,30,34–37 , two in Brazil 9,31 , one in Turkey 32 , one in Spain 33 , and one in China 28 . The sample sizes ranged from 40 33 to 986,352 30 individuals with ASD and from 19 9 to 48,598,466 30 controls.…”

“…For the method of ascertaining ASD, four studies used parental reports 26,29,30,36 , and the other studies based on their diagnoses on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) 31,32,34 , DSM-V 9,28,32 , Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) 24 , International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) 25 , International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) 27,35 , Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) 24,33,37 , Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) 24,34 , and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS-G) 33 . For the method of ascertaining BMI, three studies included parentally reported data 26,30,36 , ten studies objectively measured the data 9,24,27–29,31–34,37 , and two studies extracted the information from the participants’ medical records 25,35 .…”

“…For the method of ascertaining BMI, three studies included parentally reported data 26,30,36 , ten studies objectively measured the data 9,24,27–29,31–34,37 , and two studies extracted the information from the participants’ medical records 25,35 .…”

Avaliação do limiar sensorial para gosto doce no autismo infantil

“…Studies on eating behavior of children with ASD have been gaining ground in public health research and programs, as food choices are important for children's quality of life. [7][8][9] It is understood that food selectivity seems to be the most frequent problem observed in the eating behavior of this public. Children with autistic spectrum disorder are reported to have atypical sensory characteristics, refuse more food, and eat less vegetables when compared to children without ASD, 7 characteristics of selective eating behavior.…”