According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) one out of five school aged children is obese, a number that has tripled since the 1970s. The etiology of obesity is multi-factorial and includes not only individual biology but also social-emotional and environmental factors. For children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), causal factors associated with obesity can be amplified by the characteristics of the disorder, which leads to a higher prevalence in children with ASD as compared with typically developing peers. Increased risk continues through adulthood; obesity is 69% higher in adults with ASD compared to the general population, as are associated disorders – hypertension and diabetes are 42% and 50% higher, respectively.
Success in treating pediatric or adult obesity is elusive due to entrenched behaviors, physical and social environment, genetics and physiological changes associated with both obesity and weight loss. Prevention of obesity is critical to mitigating individual and societal costs. Recommendations for prevention of obesity in children applies to all children, regardless of the presence of autism.1 This article seeks to identify differences seen when assessing and treating overweight/obesity in children and adolescents with ASD.
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Nutrition and Autism Spectrum Disorders – Part II Treating Obesity in ASD
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