Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children

Atypical eating habits are more common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than typically developing (TD) peers. Feeding problems may lead to the double burden of specific nutrient deficiencies and excessive weight gain, with a consequent increase in obesity prevalence. The dietary inta...

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Autores principales:	Benedetta Raspini, Margherita Prosperi, Letizia Guiducci, Elisa Santocchi, Raffaella Tancredi, Sara Calderoni, Maria Aurora Morales, Mariangela Morelli, Meg Simione, Lauren Fiechtner, Filippo Muratori, Hellas Cena
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	eating habits pediatrics obesity autism spectrum disorder BMI z-score food selectivity Nutrition. Foods and food supply TX341-641
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/00155bc5597244d59e71416717277a5e
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:00155bc5597244d59e71416717277a5e2021-11-25T18:36:18ZDietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children10.3390/nu131140392072-6643https://doaj.org/article/00155bc5597244d59e71416717277a5e2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/11/4039https://doaj.org/toc/2072-6643Atypical eating habits are more common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than typically developing (TD) peers. Feeding problems may lead to the double burden of specific nutrient deficiencies and excessive weight gain, with a consequent increase in obesity prevalence. The dietary intake of Italian preschoolers with ASD compared to their TD peers and the impact of their dietary choices on their weight status and relationship to food selectivity (FS) were investigated. Dietary patterns and their associations with body mass index (BMI) were evaluated in 65 children with ASD and 82 peers with TD aged 1.3–6.4 years. Eating habits were assessed with a modified version of a parent-rated semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Moreover, the prevalence of FS and possible links with dietary patterns and BMI were investigated in the ASD group. Children with ASD consumed significantly higher amounts of simple sugars, processed and ultra-processed carbohydrates, both low- and high-fat animal proteins, and lower amounts of vegetables and fruits compared to peers with TD. The obesity rate was 1.5% in children with TD and more than fourfold (6.2%) in children with ASD, although the difference between groups was not statistically significant. FS was significantly more frequent in children with ASD than in peers with TD. Children with ASD and FS showed significantly lower annual intakes of vegetable proteins and fiber (considered essential nutrients for a healthy diet) than children with ASD without FS. Our results showed that children with ASD showed different dietary habits than those with TD, with the higher consumption of energy-dense foods and lower amounts of food-sourced fibers, which could place them at increased risk to develop overweight, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies later in life.Benedetta RaspiniMargherita ProsperiLetizia GuiducciElisa SantocchiRaffaella TancrediSara CalderoniMaria Aurora MoralesMariangela MorelliMeg SimioneLauren FiechtnerFilippo MuratoriHellas CenaMDPI AGarticleeating habitspediatricsobesityautism spectrum disorderBMI z-scorefood selectivityNutrition. Foods and food supplyTX341-641ENNutrients, Vol 13, Iss 4039, p 4039 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	eating habits pediatrics obesity autism spectrum disorder BMI z-score food selectivity Nutrition. Foods and food supply TX341-641
spellingShingle	eating habits pediatrics obesity autism spectrum disorder BMI z-score food selectivity Nutrition. Foods and food supply TX341-641 Benedetta Raspini Margherita Prosperi Letizia Guiducci Elisa Santocchi Raffaella Tancredi Sara Calderoni Maria Aurora Morales Mariangela Morelli Meg Simione Lauren Fiechtner Filippo Muratori Hellas Cena Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children
description	Atypical eating habits are more common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than typically developing (TD) peers. Feeding problems may lead to the double burden of specific nutrient deficiencies and excessive weight gain, with a consequent increase in obesity prevalence. The dietary intake of Italian preschoolers with ASD compared to their TD peers and the impact of their dietary choices on their weight status and relationship to food selectivity (FS) were investigated. Dietary patterns and their associations with body mass index (BMI) were evaluated in 65 children with ASD and 82 peers with TD aged 1.3–6.4 years. Eating habits were assessed with a modified version of a parent-rated semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Moreover, the prevalence of FS and possible links with dietary patterns and BMI were investigated in the ASD group. Children with ASD consumed significantly higher amounts of simple sugars, processed and ultra-processed carbohydrates, both low- and high-fat animal proteins, and lower amounts of vegetables and fruits compared to peers with TD. The obesity rate was 1.5% in children with TD and more than fourfold (6.2%) in children with ASD, although the difference between groups was not statistically significant. FS was significantly more frequent in children with ASD than in peers with TD. Children with ASD and FS showed significantly lower annual intakes of vegetable proteins and fiber (considered essential nutrients for a healthy diet) than children with ASD without FS. Our results showed that children with ASD showed different dietary habits than those with TD, with the higher consumption of energy-dense foods and lower amounts of food-sourced fibers, which could place them at increased risk to develop overweight, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies later in life.
format	article
author	Benedetta Raspini Margherita Prosperi Letizia Guiducci Elisa Santocchi Raffaella Tancredi Sara Calderoni Maria Aurora Morales Mariangela Morelli Meg Simione Lauren Fiechtner Filippo Muratori Hellas Cena
author_facet	Benedetta Raspini Margherita Prosperi Letizia Guiducci Elisa Santocchi Raffaella Tancredi Sara Calderoni Maria Aurora Morales Mariangela Morelli Meg Simione Lauren Fiechtner Filippo Muratori Hellas Cena
author_sort	Benedetta Raspini
title	Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children
title_short	Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children
title_full	Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children
title_fullStr	Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children
title_full_unstemmed	Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children
title_sort	dietary patterns and weight status in italian preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/00155bc5597244d59e71416717277a5e
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Dietary Patterns and Weight Status in Italian Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children

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