Diet, Activity and Obesity in Children with Autism

自闭症儿童的饮食、活动和肥胖

• 批准号: 7100072
• 负责人: LINDA G BANDINI
• 金额: $ 15.22万
• 依托单位: UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-05-01 至 2008-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7100072
• 关键词: autism; behavioral /social science research tag; body composition; body physical activity; child (0-11); child psychology; clinical research; developmental nutrition; diet; human population study; human subject; monitoring device; nutrient intake activity; nutrition related tag; obesity; overeating; personal log /diary; preference; psychological tests; questionnaires; rest; sensory discrimination

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Obesity has become a significant health concern in children, given its high and increasing prevalence. While significant efforts are underway to understand and treat this problem in the general population, little work has been done in this area for special populations such as children with autism. It is well accepted that obesity is the result of an energy imbalance, however, factors that are associated with obesity in children with autism may be different than those of their typically developing peers. The implications of the persistence of obesity in this population are significant, as the demands of managing the associated medical consequences would likely limit individuals' choices for independent living in the community. Our preliminary studies suggest that children with developmental disabilities are at the same risk for obesity than typically developing (normal) children. Children with autism appear to represent a unique group whose atypical eating patterns, reduced opportunities for physical activity due to social or recreational limitations may be associated with the development of obesity. We propose to conduct a novel and exploratory study to understand the risk factors associated with obesity in children with autism. The purpose of this study is to determine whether obesity in children with autism is associated with high levels of food selectivity and decreased levels of physical activity. We will enroll 60 children with autism and an equal number of typically developing children. Body weight and height will be measured to determine body mass index (BMI). We will define food selectivity categorically as food aversion, restricted eating patterns, and single excess food intake and will determine whether food selectivity in children with autism is greater than that of typically developing children. We will explore sensory factors and characteristics of food (e.g., temperature, color, texture, and smell) that may be associated with food selectivity. We will also determine the types and amounts of physical activity that children with autism engage in and the time spent in sedentary behavior. The proposed study will provide us with the necessary data to design a longitudinal study to determine the factors that lead to obesity in children with autism. A better understanding of these factors has the potential to inform current clinical practice and future health promotion efforts in children with autism.

描述（由申请人提供）：鉴于患病率高和越来越多，肥胖症已成为儿童的重大健康问题。尽管正在进行重要的努力来理解和治疗普通人群中，但该领域的特殊人群（例如自闭症儿童）的工作很少。肥胖是能量不平衡的结果是，与自闭症儿童肥胖相关的因素可能与他们通常发展的同龄人的因素不同。肥胖症在该人群中的持续存在的含义是重要的，因为管理相关医疗后果的要求可能会限制个人在社区中独立生活的选择。我们的初步研究表明，发育障碍儿童的肥胖风险与通常（正常）儿童相比。自闭症儿童似乎代表了一个独特的群体，其非典型饮食模式，由于社交或休闲局限性而导致的体育锻炼机会减少可能与肥胖的发展有关。我们建议进行一项新颖的探索性研究，以了解自闭症儿童肥胖相关的危险因素。这项研究的目的是确定自闭症儿童的肥胖是否与粮食选择性高和体育锻炼水平降低有关。我们将招募60名自闭症儿童和相等数量的典型患儿。体重和身高将测量以确定体重指数（BMI）。我们将明确定义食品选择性为食物厌恶，限制饮食方式和单一多余的食物摄入量，并确定自闭症儿童的粮食选择性是否大于通常患儿童的食物。我们将探索可能与食物选择性相关的食物（例如温度，颜色，质地和气味）的感觉因素和特征。我们还将确定自闭症儿童从事的身体活动的类型和数量以及久坐行为所花费的时间。拟议的研究将为我们提供必要的数据，以设计一项纵向研究，以确定导致自闭症儿童肥胖症的因素。对这些因素的更好理解有可能为自闭症儿童的当前临床实践和未来的健康促进工作提供信息。