Abstract
While clinical lore appears to accept that young children with autism have limited or narrow diets and unusual food aversions in comparison to same age peers, the empirical basis for this is missing. The goals of this preliminary study were to examine the eating habits and nutritional intake of a young cohort of well characterized children with autism compared to young children with no evidence of autism or other autism spectrum disorders. Parents reported on 19 young children with autism and 15 similar aged children with typical development using a number of informant instruments. Results indicated that children with autism had more mealtime behavioral differences, but these did not translate to significant differences in nutritional status compared to typically developing children. However, there was much variability within both groups. Results are discussed in relationship to what has been previously found in older children with autism spectrum disorders.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach, T. M. (2000). Child behavior checklist 1 1/2-5. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.
Ahearn, W., Castine, T., Nault, K., & Green, G. (2001). An assessment of food acceptance in children with autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 505–511. DOI 10.1023/A:1012221026124.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Anderson, A. S., Hunt, K., Ford, L., & Finnegan, F. (1994). One apple a day? Fruit and vegetable eating in the West of Scotland. Health Education Research, 9, 297–305. DOI 10.1093/her/9.3.297.
Chakrabarti, S., & Fombonne, E. (2005). Pervasive developmental disorders in preschool children: High prevalence confirmed. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 1133–1141. DOI 10.1176/appi.ajp.162.6.1133.
DeMeyer, M. K. (1979). Parents and children with autism. New York: Wiley.
Dosman, C., Brian, J., Drmic, I., Senthilselvan, A., Harford, M., Smith, R., et al. (2006). Children with autism: Effect of iron supplementation on sleep and ferritin. Pediatric Neurology, 36, 152–158. DOI 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2006.11.004.
Field, D., Garlan, M., & Williams, K. (2003). Correlates of specific childhood feeding problems. Journal of Paediatric Child Health, 39, 299–304. DOI 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00151.x.
Fehily, A. M. (1993). Methods of food intake measurement: their uses and abuses. Nutrition Bulletin, 18, 25–33. DOI 10.1111/j.1467-3010.1993.tb00159.x.
Food and Nutrition Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences. (2000). Dietary reference intakes: Applications in dietary assessment. Washington: National Academy Press.
Food Processor (Nutrition and Fitness Software) version 8.5, 2005. ESHA Research, Inc.
Johnson, S. B., Silverstein, J. H., Rosenbloom, A., Carter, R., & Cunningham, W. (1986). Assessing daily management in childhood diabetes. Health Psychology, 5, 545–564. DOI 10.1037/0278-6133.5.6.545.
Latif, A., Heinz, P., & Cook, R. (2002). Iron deficiency in autism and Asperger Syndrome. Autism, 6, 103–114.
Levy, S. E., & Hyman, S. L. (2003). Use of complementary and treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders is increasing. Pediatric Annals, 32, 685–691.
Lindsay, R. L., Arnold, L. E., Aman, M. G., Vitiello, B., Posey, D. J., McDougle, C. J., et al. (2006). Dietary status and impact of risperidone on nutritional balance in children with autism: A pilot study. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 31, 204–209. DOI 10.1080/13668250601006924.
Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (2002). Autism diagnostic observation schedule: A standardized observation of communicative and social behavior. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
Mullen, E. J. (1995). Mullen scales of early learning. Bloomington, MN: Pearson Assessments.
Mullenbach, V., Kushi, L. H., Jacobson, C., Gomez-Marin, O., Prineas, R. J., Roth-Yousey, L., et al. (1992). Comparison of 3-day food record and 24-hour recall by telephone for dietary evaluation in adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 92, 743745.
Palmer, S., & Horn, S. (1978). Feeding problems in children. In S. Palmer, & S. Ekval (Eds.), Pediatric nutrition in developmental disorder (pp. 107–129). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Posner, B. M., Martin-Munley, S. S., Smigelski, C., Cupples, L., Cobb, J. L., Schaefer, E., et al. (1992). Comparison of techniques for estimating nutrient intake: The Framingham Study. Epidemiology, 3, 171–177.
Raiten, D. J., & Massaro, T. (1986). Perspectives on the nutritional ecology of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 16, 133–143, Medline, DOI 10.1007/BF01531725.
Ritvo, E. M., & Freeman, B. J. (1978). National society for autistic children definition of the syndrome of autism. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 8, 162–170. DOI 10.1007/BF01537864.
Schreck, K. A., Mulick, J. A., & Smith, A. F. (2004a). Sleep problems as possible predictors of intensified symptoms of autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25, 57–66. DOI 10.1016/j.ridd.2003.04.007.
Schreck, K. A., Williams, K., & Smith, A. (2004b). Comparison of eating behaviors between children with and without autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34, 433–438.
Schreck, K. A., & Williams, K. (2006). Food preferences and factors influencing food selectivity for children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27, 353–363. DOI 10.1016/j.ridd.2005.03.005.
Williams, K. E., Gibbons, B., & Schreck, K. A. (2005). Comparing selective eaters with and without developmental disabilities. Journal of Physical and Developmental Disabilities, 17, 299–309. DOI 10.1007/s10882-005-4387-7.
Yarnell, J. W. G., Fehily, A. M., Milbank, J. E., Sweetnam, P. M., & Walker, C. L. (1983). A short dietary questionnaire for use in an epidemiological survey: Comparison with weighed dietary records. Human Nutrition: Applied Nutrition, 37, 103–112.
Acknowledgement of funding
Support in part by The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation and the John F. & Nancy A. Emmerling Fund/The Pittsburgh Foundation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Appendix
Appendix
FEEDING ASSESSMENT SURVEY
Child’s Name | ID# | |||
Person Providing Information | Date Completed |
Never | Sometimes | Often | Very Frequently | |
a. Throws food | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
b. Spits food | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
c. Cries, screams | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
d. Leaves the table before finished | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
e. Takes food from others | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
f. Refuses foods of certain texture | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
g. Refuses foods of certain color | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
h. Refuses foods of certain food group (vegetables, fruits, grains, protein) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
i. Eats only a small amount | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
j. Eats too much | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Johnson, C.R., Handen, B.L., Mayer-Costa, M. et al. Eating Habits and Dietary Status in Young Children with Autism. J Dev Phys Disabil 20, 437–448 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-008-9111-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-008-9111-y