Mental Health and Food Part 2: Autism, Eating, and Nutrition

 

Picky Eaters

Ahearn, Castine, Nault and Green (2001) found that in the group of children with ASD they were working with more then half of the children would not consume food that was presented to them. However, there was a small percentage of the group that would consume anything that they were presented with (Ahearn et al., 2001). While this study shows that there is evidence of food refusal in children with ASD, without a comparison group it is unknown if these refusal would by typical or atypical of peers.

In 2004 Schreck and colleagues. found that overall children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit more feeding problems then their neurotypical peers. It was reported that 75% of children with ASD would only eat a narrow variety of food in every food category, and that when they did accept the food it was not eaten as often with the appropriate utensils (Schreck, Williams, & Smith, 2004).

Johnson and colleagues (2008) also found a significant increase in food refusal. A significant portion of children with ASD refused to eat food belonging to a specific food group, or due to the texture or color of the food (Johnson, Handen, Mayer-Costa, & Sacco, 2008) In addition they also found that children with ASD were more likely to throw food then their typically developing peers (Johnson et al., 2008)

Nutrition

Bandini and colleagues (2010) compared food selectivity between children with ASD and their typically developing peers, as well they looked at nutritional intake. To compile the data they used parental questioners as well as a three day food journal (Bandini et al., 2010). Overall, children with ASD did refuse food more often then their peers. It is also interesting to note that they did not find a difference in calcium and vitamin D intake in children with ASD who were on a gluten-free and casein free diet as opposed to children with ASD who were eating the standard American diet (Bandini et al., 2010). However, overall they did find that children with ASD were at risk for nutritional deficiencies due to only eating select foods (Bandini et al., 2010).

Previously Johnson and colleagues (2008) found that the only vitamin that children with ASD were consuming less then their peers was Vitamin K. As well children with ASD was found to consume more magnesium then their peers (Johnson, Handen, Mayer-Costa, & Sacco, 2008). While children with ASD ate fewer vegetables then their peers there was not a difference in total calories, carbohydrates, protein, or fats (Johnson et al., 2008).

It is potential that the irregularity in eating habits is what is raising the rate of obesity among children with an ASD. Currently it is estimated that children with ASD are 40% more likely to be obese then their peers (Curtin, Anderson, Must, & Bandini, 2010).

Conclusion

Most if not all of the current research looking at children with ASD have determined that there is eating difficulties associated with ASD. Yet despite this, the research on these eating disorders is very limited and is focused manly on picky eating as well as nutritional intake. Another area of interest is gastrointestinal issues in children with ASD, however this will be given its own post. While these are both important topics research could also focus on children who are less picky then there peers (perhaps there is a relation with pica).

References

Ahearn, W. H., Castine, T., Nault, K., & Green, G. (2001). An assessment of food acceptance in children with autism or pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(5), 505-511.

Bandini, L. G., Anderson, S. E., Curtin, C., Cermak, S., Evans, E. W., Scampini, R. . . Must, A. (2010). Food selectivity in children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 157, 259-264.

Curtin, C., Anderson, S. E., Must, A., & Bandini, L. The prevalence of obesity in children with autism: A secondary data analysis using nationally representative data from the National Survey of Children's Helath. BMC Pediatrics, 10(11).

Schreck, K. A., Williams, K., & Smith, A. F. (2004). A comparison of eating behaviors between children with and without autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(4), 433-438.