Analysis of nutritional status, consumption and eating behavior of children with autistic spectrum disorder
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/demetra.2025.81869Keywords:
Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nutritional assessment. Eating behavior. Nutritional status. Food intake.Abstract
Introduction: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have restricted or repetitive behaviors, such as food selectivity, which limits food variability and can be reflected in nutritional status. Objective: To trace the nutritional status, consumption and eating behavior of children with ASD in the municipality of Morada Nova, Ceará. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative and descriptive study was conducted with children aged three to 10years old diagnosed with ASD. Food consumption was evaluated through application of a Food Frequency Questionnaire answered by the parents/guardians, who also answered the Labyrinth Scale of Eating Behavior in ASD, composed of 26 questions. In addition, the children’s weight and height were verified for analysis of nutritional status according to the anthropometric indices: Weight/Age (W/A), Weight/Height (W/H), Height/Age (H/A) and BMI/Age. Results: There were 27 children, most of whom were male (77.77% n=21). Foods in the groups of beans, cereals, meats and sweets obtained higher consumption scores. The eating behavior domains whichpresented the highest scores were: meal skills, rigid behaviors related to eating, and food selectivity. The majority of the sample was of adequate weight according to the W/A (74%) and BMI/A (51.8%) indices; and adequate height according to H/A (96.3%). Conclusions: Children with autism have preferences for foods from the groups of beans, cereals, meats and sweets, and have eating behavior problems. In addition, there was a higher prevalence of adequate weight among the participants.
Downloads
References
1. American Psychiatric Association (APA). Manual diagnóstico e estatístico de transtornos mentais-DSM-V. 5. ed. Porto Alegre: Artmed; 2014.
2. Maenner MJ, Warren Z, Williams AR, Amoakohene E, Bakian AV, Bilder DA, et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years – Autismand Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2020. MMWR Surveillance Summaries [Internet]. 2023;72(2):1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7202a1
3. Marí-Bauset S, Zazpe I, Mari-Sanchis A, Llopis-González A, Morales-Suárez-Varela M. Food Selectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorders: a systematic review. J ChildNeurol.2014;29(11):1554-1561. https://doi.org/10.1177/0883073813498821
4. Rocha GSS, Júnior FCM, Lima NDP, Silva MVRS, Machado AS, Pereira IC, et al. Análise da seletividade alimentar de pessoas com Transtorno do Espectro Autista. REAS. 2019;24(e538):1–8. https://doi.org/10.25248/reas.e538.2019.
5. Carvalho JA, Santos CSS, Carvalho MP, Souza LSA. Nutrição e autismo: considerações sobre a alimentação do autista. Revista Científica do ITPAC[internet]. 2012 [citado em 5 de jun de 2024].; 5(1):1-7. Disponível em: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/assets.unitpac.com.br/arquivos/Revista/51/1.pdf.
6. Molina-López J, Leiva-García B, Planells E, Planells P. Food selectivity, nutritional inadequacies, and meal time behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder compared to neurotypical children. Int J EatDisord. 2021; 54(12):2155-2166. https://doi: 10.1002/eat.23631.
7. Dhaliwal KK, Orsso CE, Richard C, Haqq AM, Zwaigenbaum L. Risk Factors for Unhealthy Weight Gainand Obesity among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(13):3285. https://doi:10.3390/ijms20133285.
8. Leader G, Tuohy E, Chen JL, Mannion A, Gilroy SP. Feeding Problems, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Challenging Behavior and Sensory Issues in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2020;50(4):1401-1410. https://doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04357-7.
9. SantosP, Pereira R, Nérias S, Almeida A, Coutinho DJG (2021). Avaliação nutricional em crianças com autismo: revisão bibliográfica.REASE. 2021;7(10): 921-949. https://doi.org/10.51891/rease.v7i10.2632.
10. Baptista FKS. Evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: relation with serotonin serum levels and dietary. [Dissertação de Mestrado]. São Paulo: Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie; 2013.
11. Lázaro CP, Siquara GM, Pondé MP. Escala de Avaliação do Comportamento Alimentar no Transtorno do Espectro Autista: estudo de validação. J braspsiquiatr [Internet]. 2019;68(4):191-199. https://doi.org/10.1590/0047-2085000000246
12. Ministério da Saúde (Brasil). Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde. Departamento de Atenção Básica. Orientações para a coleta e análise de dados antropométricos em serviços de saúde: Norma Técnica do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional - SISVAN [recurso eletrônico]. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2011. [Acesso em 11 dez 2023]. Disponível em: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/orientacoes_coleta_analise_dados_antropometricos.pdf
13. World Health Organization. Anthro for personal computers, version 3.2.2, 2011: Software for assessing grow than development of the world's children. Geneva; 2010. [Acesso em 11 dez 2023]. Disponível em: http://www.who.int/childgrowth/software/en/
14. World Health Organization. AnthroPlus for personal computers Manual: Software for assessing growth of the world's children and adolescents. Geneva; 2009. [Acesso em 11 dez 2023]. Disponível em: http://www.who.int/growthref/tools/en/.
15. Silva DVD, Santos PNM, Silva DAV. Excesso de peso e sintomas gastrointestinais em um grupo de crianças autistas. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2020; 38(5):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-0462/2020/38/2019080.
16. Caetano MV, Gurgel DC. Perfil nutricional de crianças portadoras do transtorno do espectro autista. RevBrasPromoc Saúde. 2018;31(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.5020/18061230.2018.6714
17. Jacquemont S, Coe BP, Hersch M, Duyzend MH, Krumm N, Bergmann S, et al. A higher mutation alburden in females supports a "female protective model" in neurodevelopmental disorders. Am J Hum Genet. 2014;94(3):415-425. https://doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.02.001.
18. Werling DM, Geschwind DH. Sex differences in autisms pectrum disorders. CurrOpinNeurol. 2013;26(2):146-153. https://doi:10.1097/WCO.0b013e32835ee548.
19. Plaza-Diaz J, Flores-Rojas K, Torre-Aguilar MJ, Gomez-Fernández AR, Martín-Borreguero P, Perez-Navero JL, et al. Dietary Patterns, Eating Behavior, and Nutrient Intakes of Spanish Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3551. https://doi:10.3390/nu13103551.
20. Santos AKM, Nascimento RR, Maia ER, Matos JHF. Intervenções nutricionais para terapia do transtorno do espectro autista: revisão de escopo. RBONE [Internet]. 2023 [acesso em 5 jun 2024];17(106):110-23. Disponível em: https://www.rbone.com.br/index.php/rbone/article/view/2194
21. Almeida AK, Fonseca PC, Oliveira LA, Santos WRCC, Zagmignan A, Oliveira BR, et al. Consumo de ultraprocessados e estado nutricional de crianças com transtorno do espectro do autismo. RevBrasPromoc Saúde [Internet]. 2018;31(3):1-10.https://doi.org/10.5020/18061230.2018.7986
22. Lemes MA, Garcia GP, Carmo BL, Santiago BA, Teixeira DDB, Agostinho Junior F, et al. Comportamento alimentar de crianças com transtorno do espectro autista. J BrasPsiquiatr. 2023;72(3):136-42. https://doi.org/10.1590/0047-2085000000414
23. Yeung SSY, Chan R, Li L, Chan D, Leung J, Leung TF. EatingBehaviorsand Diet Quality in ChinesePreschoolerswithandwithoutAutism Spectrum Disorder: A Case-ControlStudy. J Pediatr. 2021;237:258-266.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.06.017.
24. Mendes BS, Freire JML, Caldas BRC, Oliveira TC, Landim LASR. Padrões e comportamentos alimentares em crianças portadoras do Transtorno do Espectro Autista. Res. Soc.Dev. 2021; 10(12):e296101219911. http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i12.19911
25. Padmanabhan PS, Shroff H. The relationship between sensory integration challenges and the dietary intake and nutritional status of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mumbai, India. Int J DevDisabil. 2018;66(2): 142-152. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2018.1522816
26. Magagnin T, Silva MA, Nunes RZS, Ferraz F, Soratto J. Aspectos alimentares e nutricionais de crianças e adolescentes com transtorno do espectro autista. Physis. 2021;31(1):e310104. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-73312021310104
27. Silva ÁGS, Chaves SPL, Almeida LNA, Nascimento RL, Macêdo MLM, Sarmento AQ. Aspectos sensoriais e a seletividade alimentar da criança com transtorno do espectro autista: um estudo de revisão integrativa. Res., Soc. Dev. 2021;10(10):e557101018944.http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i10.18944.
28. Rodrigues CPS, Silva JP de A, Álvares IQ, Silva ALF, Leite AFB, Carvalho MF. O consumo alimentar de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista está correlacionado com alterações sensório-oral e o comportamento alimentar. Braz. J. Dev.2020;6(9):67155-67170. https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv6n9-230
29. Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Manual de Avalição Nutricional 2ª edição – atualizada. Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Departamento Científico de Nutrologia[recurso eletrônico]. São Paulo: SBP. 2021. 120 p.[Acesso 09 jan 2024]. Disponível em: https://www.sbp.com.br/fileadmin/user_upload/_22962e-ManAval_Nutricional_-_2Ed_Atualizada_SITE.pdf.
30. Silva IJS, Monteiro MC, Araújo MGV, Paz RC, Silva BN, Rezende AJ, et al. Estado nutricional e consumo de ultraprocessados de crianças com transtorno do espectro do autismo. Braz. J. Dev. 2021;7(8): 85158-85171. https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv7n8-634.
31. Quedas CLR, Mendes EH, Toledo TB.Prevalência de excesso de peso e obesidade em pessoas com transtorno do espectro autista: uma revisão bibliográfica.Cad. Pós-Grad. Disturb. Desenvolv.2020;20(2):123-137. http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/cadernosdisturbios.v20n2p123-137.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Matias Rabelo Neto, Roseane Roseane Saraiva de Santiago Lima, Mayara Isa Maia, Maria Jéssica de Almeida Souza
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP RESPONSIBILITY
Title of the manuscript:
________________________________________________________
1. Statement of responsability
I certify that I have participated in the work above specified and take public responsibility for its content.
I certify that the manuscript represents an original work and that none of the material in the manuscript has been previously published, is included in another manuscript, or is currently under consideration for publication elsewhere, whether in printed form or in electronic media, except that described in the attachment.
In case of acceptance of this text by Demetra: Alimentação, Nutrição & Saude, I declare to be in accordance with the policy of public access and copyright adopted by Demetra, which provides as follows: (a) the authors retain the copyright and grant to the Journal the right of first publication, the work being simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows the sharing of the work with acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal; (b) authors are authorized to enter additional contracts separately for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (eg, publishing in institutional repository or book chapter), with acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal; and (c) authors are permitted and encouraged to post and distribute their work online (eg, in institutional repositories or on their personal page) at any point before or during the editorial process, as this may lead to productive changes, as well as increase the impact and citation of the published work.
2. Conflict of Interest Statement
I certify that there is no conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
Date, signature and full address of all authors.
