Feeding Problems and Nutritional Assessment in Children with Autism

Tariq Wtwt, Enas; Fadhil Farhood, Hadeel

	Feeding Problems and Nutritional Assessment in Children with Autism
Kerbala Journal of Medicine
Article 1, Volume 8, Issue 1, 2015, Pages 2172-2186 PDF (0 K)
Authors
Enas Tariq Wtwt; Hadeel Fadhil Farhood
Abstract
background: Autism is a brain developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Feeding disorders common in children with autism and considered as a major concern for their parents. Selective or "picky eating" is a frequent problem in children with autism. Objectives: To identify common feeding problems in children with autism and to assess the nutritional status of children with autism. Method: A descriptive cross – sectional study conducted to determine feeding problems and to assess nutritional status in children with autism, in period between the 1st of February to the 31th of May 2014. A convenient sample of (70) child with autism has been collected from (3) specialized institutes for mental handicapped, slow learning, difficult speech and autism, (Al Rehma Institute of Autism and Babil Specialized Institute of Autism in Babylon city and Al Imam Al Husien Institute of Autism In Karbala city). Data obtained include questionnaire and Anthropometric measures: Weight, Hieght, calculating BMI, and plotted them on growth charts (BMI for age). Results: The study included 70 patients that 56 (80%) were males and 14 (20%) were females with male to female sex ratio of 4:1, whose Mean age ± SD (5.95 ± 1.77) years old. Of those 4 (5.7%) were under weight, 28 (40%) were normal weight and 38 (54.3%) were overweight/obese. The percentage of autistic children who had select food type, select food texture, food refusal, food allergy were (47.1%), (52.9%), (40%), (11.4%) respectively. Children who exhibit pica were (25.7%). Conclusion: More than half of children with autism were overweight/obese. Males affected more commonly than females. No significant association between type of feeding during first six months of life, age at weaning and signs of hungry with nutritional status of autistic children. All the underweight autistic children had history of feeding problems like selective food by either type or texture, behavioral problems during feeding, food allergy and diarrhea. The overweight autistic children had history of sitting position during feeding, more than three meals per day, and more than 30 minutes duration of meal. Pica is common in autistic children.
Keywords
Autism; Feeding problems; Food selectivity; nutritional assessment; and Overweight

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