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. 2022 Jan;52(1):361-375.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-04928-7. Epub 2021 Mar 21.

Do Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Eat Differently and Less Adequately than Those with Subclinical ASD and Typical Development? EPINED Epidemiological Study

Josefa Canals-Sans #  1   2   3 , Patricia Esteban-Figuerola #  1   2   3 , Paula Morales-Hidalgo  1   2   3 , Victoria Arija  4   5   6
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Do Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Eat Differently and Less Adequately than Those with Subclinical ASD and Typical Development? EPINED Epidemiological Study

Josefa Canals-Sans et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Food consumption in children with ASD, subclinical ASD and with typical development (TD), and their adequacy to dietary recommendations was studied. A school population sample of 77 children with ASD, 40 with subclinical ASD, and 333 with TD participated. Compared to children with TD, pre-schoolers with ASD consumed fewer raw vegetables and less fish and eggs, while primary school children consumed fewer legumes, raw vegetables, citrus fruits, cheese/yogurt and olive oil, and more meat. All groups consumed an excess of sugar but those with ASD consumed even a greater amount than their peers. The higher prevalence of obesity found in primary school children with ASD may be the consequence of a less healthy eating pattern sustained over time.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorders; Food consumption; Food groups; Food variety; Preschool children; Primary school age children.

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