Current Perspectives on Physical Activity and Exercise Recommendations for Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that childhood obesity is increasing in children who are developing typically as well as in children with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Impairments specific to autism as well as general environmental factors could lead to an imbalance between the intake and expenditure of energy, leading to obesity. In this article, we describe the mechanisms by which autism-specific impairments contribute to obesity. The evidence on exercise interventions to improve physical fitness, address obesity, and reduce autism-specific impairments in children and adolescents with ASDs is discussed. Limited evidence is currently available for exercise interventions in individuals with ASDs. Therefore, literature on other pediatric developmental disabilities and children who are developing typically was reviewed to provide recommendations for clinicians to assess physical activity levels, to promote physical fitness, and to reduce obesity in children and adolescents with ASDs. There is a clear need for further systematic research to develop sensitive assessment tools and holistic multisystem and multifactorial obesity interventions that accommodate the social communication, motor, and behavioral impairments of individuals with ASDs.

Promoting Physical Activity for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Barriers, Benefits, and Strategies for Success

“…An overall analysis of 59 articles published between 1947 and 2009 showed significant improvements in achievement and cognitive scores for children with higher physical activity levels (Fedewa & Ahn, 2011). Therefore, there is reason to believe that these same benefits can be seen in children with ASD (Nicholson, Kehle, Bray, & Van Heest, 2011;Srinivasan et al, 2014), though further investigation is needed into biological changes in children with ASD following exercise training.…”

“…Poor or delayed motor skills appear to heavily affect physical activity in individuals with ASD, including fitness and motor skill components such as hand-eye coordination, perceptual issues, and difficulties with balance (Menear, Smith, & Lanier, 2006;Fournier, Hass, Naik, Lodha, & Cauraugh, 2010;Pan, 2014;Provost, Lopez, & Heimerl, 2007;Srinivasan et al, 2014). These differences in coordination and motor skills in students with ASD have been observed and reported by parents, teachers, and other caregivers (Provost et al, 2007).…”

“…skills and fitness levels (Obrusnikova & Cavalier, 2011;Pan, 2014;Srinivasan, Pescatello, & Bhat, 2014;Staples & Reid, 2010). The purposes of this article are to (1) review factors that can improve the physical activity statistics of students with ASD, (2) outline the researched benefits of physical activity for students with ASD, and (3) summarize strategies for success in physical education.…”

A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Effects of a Fundamental Motor Skills Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…As will be discussed later in the chapter, individuals with ASD have potentially higher rates of obesity (Broder-Fingert et al, 2014;Egan, Dreyer, Odar, Beckwith, & Garrison, 2013;Hill, Zuckerman, & Fombonne, 2015;Zuckerman, Hill, Guion, Voltolina, & Fombonne, 2014) and lower rates of physical activity (Sowa & Meulenbroek, 2011;Srinivasan, Pescatello, & Bhat, 2014). As is the case in populations without disabilities, it is difficult to ascertain in the literature whether one condition is an outcome of the other or if there is a reciprocal relationship.…”

“…Sowa and Meulenbroek (2011) provide further positive evidence for the use of exercise-based interventions to assist with motor and (From Srinivasan, Pescatello, & Bhat, 2014) social deficits in individuals with ASD; the small sample size, however, limits the findings' generalizability. Furthermore, due to the great variance among individuals with ASD, the suggested effects of exercise and physical activity on ASD are limited.…”