Eating Behaviors of Children with Autism—Pilot Study, Part II

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by social communication deficit and non-normative behavior. The people with autism often experience troubles with feeding. The purpose of this study was to conduct evaluation of the feeding and eating behaviors among children with autism. Patients and Methods: The study group included 41 high-functioning autistic children. The control group consisted of 34 children without the ASD. The questionnaire was used to assess the nutritional status. Results: The children with ASD fuss during mealtimes more frequently, they require entertaining and diverting their attention, they are fed by parents, and they consume their meals away from the table. The significant difference found in the use of utensils and food selectivity works to the disadvantage of the Study Group. Conclusions: The food selectivity occurs significantly more frequently among children with ASD. The feeding and eating problems should be considered on a wider scale. The cooperation of the multidisciplinary and the parents teams should be proposed in the ASD patients care.

Nutritional Behaviors Among Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…In the present study it was found that the presence of the following behaviors ( disrupt eating include leaving the dining table before finishing the meal, getting angry at mealtimes, and turning face or body away from the food) is consistent with the results of a study conducted by Kazek, et al (2021) (18) , which showed that children with autism spectrum disorder frequently make noise while eating, need entertainment and divert their attention, are fed by their parents, and eat their meals away from the table. (18) PISSN: 2974-3281 EISSN: 2974-329x…”

Comportamento Alimentar De Crianças Com Transtorno Do Espectro Autista

“…A literatura mostrou que crianças com autismo podem ter dificuldades em aceitar certas texturas, tendo como preferência os alimentos pastosos, também rejeitam mais os alimentos, são mais exigentes, reticentes ao novo e aceitam uma variedade restrita do que lhes é ofertado. Tais comportamentos podem ser prejudiciais para o desenvolvimento da criança, podendo causar inadequações nutricionais e prejuízos à saúde (DIAZ et al, 2021;LÓPEZ et al, 2021;KAZEK, 2021;ESPOSITO, 2023).…”

Understanding the Relationship between Distress Behaviour and Health Status of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Although, changes to appetite during illness are not isolated to those with ASD, as most children that experience illness has been shown to have a reduced food intake by 15-20% whilst experiencing upper respiratory infections, diarrhoea, or fevers [19]. However, food selectivity has been shown to occur more frequently in children with ASD compared to those without [20], for which the biological basis largely remains unknown. Some studies have suggested atypical sensory stimulation to be the likely cause towards food selectivity [21,22].…”