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Comprehensive Guide to Autism pp 425–438Cite as

Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle in Autism

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Abstract

Physical activity as a weighted index of quality of life appears to be overlooked in people with disability including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is an increasing concern that this population is at risk of sedentary lifestyle and related morbidities in addition to their social, behavioral, and motor difficulties. Although, little is known about their physical activity behavior and habits, several individual and environmental barriers can limit their active living participation. This chapter will begin with a brief overview on activity levels and patterns in individuals with ASD. The barriers and determinants of physical activity in this population will also be discussed. Given the great promise of exercise interventions in improving several impairments in individuals with ASD, useful recommendations to promote physical activity will be discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No. 7, Al-e-Ahmad Highway, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Hossein Memari

  2. Faculty of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, North Kargar St, Enghelab Sq, Tehran, Iran

    Banafsheh Ghaheri

Authors
  1. Amir Hossein Memari
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  2. Banafsheh Ghaheri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amir Hossein Memari .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, Faculty of Science & Technology, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Nutritional Sciences Division and Genomics Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Faculty of Society and Health, Buckinghamshire New University, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

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Memari, A.H., Ghaheri, B. (2014). Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle in Autism. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V., Martin, C. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Autism. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4787-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4788-7

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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