@misc{10481/71570,
year = {2021},
month = {10},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10481/71570},
abstract = {Objective: To evaluate body composition, nutritional status through food selectivity
and degree of inadequate intake, and mealtime behavior in children with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) compared to neurotypical children.
Method: A cross-sectional case–control study was carried out in 144 children
(N = 55 with ASD; N = 91 with neurotypical children) between 6 and 18 years of
age. Body composition, nutritional intake, food consumption frequency (FFQ), and
mealtime behavior were evaluated.
Results: Results showed a greater presence of children with a low weight (18.4%
ASD vs. 3.20% comparison group) and obesity (16.3% ASD vs. 8.6% comparison
group) in the ASD group for body mass index (BMI) categories (p = .003; number
needed to take [NNT] = 8.07). The presence of obesity in ASD children compared to
the comparison group was even higher when considering the fat component (47.5%
ASD vs. 19.4% comparison group, p = .002; NNT = 10.3). ASD children had greater
intake inadequacy (50% ASD vs. 22% comparison group, p = .014; NNT = 3.58), high
food selectivity by FFQ (60.6% ASD vs. 37.9% comparison group, p < .037;
NNT = 4.41), and more eating problems (food rejection, limited variety, disruptive
behavior), compared to neurotypical children (p = .001).
Conclusion: Children with ASD showed an unbalanced body composition toward
both underweight and obesity, a greater degree of inadequate intake, high food
selectivity as indicated by their consumption frequency, and more disturbed eating
behavior than children with neurotypical development. We suggest monitoring nutritional
inadequacies and implementing nutritional strategies to expand the variety of
foods children with ASD consume.},
organization = {Mutua Madrilena Research Foundation},
publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell Publishing},
keywords = {Anthropometric parameters},
keywords = {Autism spectrum disorder},
keywords = {Food selectivity},
keywords = {Mealtime behavior},
keywords = {Nutrient intake},
title = {Food selectivity, nutritional inadequacies, and mealtime behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder compared to neurotypical children},
doi = {10.1002/eat.23631},
author = {Molina López, Jorge and Planells Del Pozo, Elena María},
}