Obesity in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Egan, Anna; Dreyer, M; Odar, Cathleen; Beckwith, Malia; Garrison, Carol B.

doi:10.1089/chi.2012.0028

Cited by 132 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…These prevalence estimates are consistent with recently reported estimates based on measured height and weight in people with ASDs. 45,70 For example, Broder-Fingert et al 45 found significantly elevated rates of overweight (exclusive of obesity) and obese weight status among children with Asperger syndrome and autism compared with control children in every age category (2-5, 6-11, 12-15, and 16-20 years). In our analyses, prevalence of overweight and obesity was consistently higher for ASDs, except among children with ASDs ages 6-11 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity and Autism

Hill¹,

2015

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OBJECTIVE: Overweight and obesity are increasingly prevalent in the general pediatric population. Evidence suggests that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may be at elevated risk for unhealthy weight. We identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a multisite clinical sample of children with ASDs and explore concurrent associations with variables identified as risk factors for unhealthy weight in the general population.METHODS: Participants were 5053 children with confirmed diagnosis of ASD in the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network. Measured values for weight and height were used to calculate BMI percentiles; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for BMI for gender and age were used to define overweight and obesity ($85th and $95th percentiles, respectively). RESULTS:In children age 2 to 17 years, 33.6% were overweight and 18% were obese. Compared with a general US population sample, rates of unhealthy weight were significantly higher among children with ASDs ages 2 to 5 years and among those of non-Hispanic white origin. Multivariate analyses revealed that older age, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, lower parent education levels, and sleep and affective problems were all significant predictors of obesity. CONCLUSIONS:Our results indicate that the prevalence of unhealthy weight is significantly greater among children with ASD compared with the general population, with differences present as early as ages 2 to 5 years. Because obesity is more prevalent among older children in the general population, these findings raise the question of whether there are different trajectories of weight gain among children with ASDs, possibly beginning in early childhood.WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may be at elevated risk for unhealthy weight. Samples of children with verified clinical diagnoses of ASD have been lacking, and associations with child behavior and functioning are not well understood.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: Young children (2-5 years old) and adolescents (12-17 years old) with ASDs were at an elevated risk for unhealthy weight status compared with a general population sample. The presence of sleep or affective problems may confer increased risk among those with ASD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity and Autism

Hill¹,

2015

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“…Obesity is estimated to have a prevalence rate of 30% in children with ASD compared to 24% of their typically developing peers [11,12]. Even more alarming, obesity continues into adulthood for those with ASD at a rate of 42% [13] which can contribute to serious health problems such as depression, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease as well as social problems such as isolation, stigma, discrimination, and low selfesteem [11,12]. Furthermore, the economic costs of obesity have been estimated to be nearly 10% of total medical expenditures resulting in increased lifetime costs [13].…”

Section: Food Selectivity In Obese Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even more alarming, obesity continues into adulthood for those with ASD at a rate of 42% [13] which can contribute to serious health problems such as depression, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease as well as social problems such as isolation, stigma, discrimination, and low selfesteem [11,12]. Furthermore, the economic costs of obesity have been estimated to be nearly 10% of total medical expenditures resulting in increased lifetime costs [13]. Rates of obesity are increasing at younger ages producing health complications earlier and may require interventions at younger ages [13].…”

Section: Food Selectivity In Obese Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, the economic costs of obesity have been estimated to be nearly 10% of total medical expenditures resulting in increased lifetime costs [13]. Rates of obesity are increasing at younger ages producing health complications earlier and may require interventions at younger ages [13].…”

Section: Food Selectivity In Obese Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two longitudinal studies have shown that children with ASD have continued with similar food selectivity years later and in one case, decreased food repertoire [3,4]. Previous research has focused on children with ASD and food selectivity with mean ages ranging from four to eight years [1][2][3][4]7,10,13] with few addressing adolescents exclusively. Clearly, there exists a need to investigate food selectivity in adolescents with ASD.…”

Section: Food Selectivity In Obese Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Food Selectivity in Obese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Strahan¹

2015

J Child Adolesc Behav

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Reorganization of brain connectivity in obesity

Geha

Cecchi

Constable

et al. 2016

Human Brain Mapping

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Global brain connectivity (GBC) identifies regions of the brain, termed "hubs," which are densely connected and metabolically costly, and have a wide influence on brain function. Since obesity is associated with central and peripheral metabolic dysfunction we sought to determine if GBC is altered in obesity. Two independent fMRI data sets were subjected to GBC analyses. The first data set was acquired while participants (n = 15 healthy weight and 15 obese) tasted milkshake and the second with participants at rest (n = 33 healthy weight and 28 obese). In the resting state and during milkshake consumption GBC is consistently decreased in the ventromedial and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, insula and caudate nucleus, and increased in brain regions belonging to the dorsal attention network including premotor areas, superior parietal lobule, and visual cortex. During milkshake consumption, but not at rest, additional decreases in GBC are observed in feeding-related circuitry including the insula, amygdala, anterior hippocampus, hypothalamus, midbrain, brainstem and somatomotor cortex. Additionally, GBC differences were not accounted for by age. These results demonstrate that obesity is associated with decreased GBC in prefrontal and feeding circuits and increased GBC in the dorsal attention network. We therefore conclude that global brain organization is altered in obesity to favor networks important for external orientation over those monitoring homeostatic state and guiding feeding decisions. Furthermore, since prefrontal decreases are also observed at rest in obese individuals future work should evaluate whether these changes are associated with neurocognitive impairments frequently observed in obesity and diabetes. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1403-1420, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Obesity in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Abstract: Children with ASD are at risk for overweight and obesity, and children with autistic disorder are at greater risk for weight problems than children with Asperger's disorder/PDD-NOS. Further research is needed to identify factors related to overweight in children with ASD.

Cited by 132 publications

References 23 publications

Obesity and Autism

Obesity and Autism

Food Selectivity in Obese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Reorganization of brain connectivity in obesity

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