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Eating habits and dietary patterns in children with autism

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Abstract

The children with autism have feeding problems such as chewing, preference for the same food that often are responsible for the nutrient imbalance. In this study, we have analyzed the differences in food consumption (food frequency) and eating behavior (CEBI test) between children with autism and their typically developing peers. A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups for the consumption of milk, yogurt, pulses, rice, and fruit juices (p ≤ 0,005). We observed a significant difference in the analysis of CEBI results when considering the 6- to 9.5-year-aged subgroup with autism vs control subgroup (103.50 and 110.14, respectively). The advices given by nutritionists have proved crucial to improve eating habits in children with autism, in the follow-up.

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Acknowledgments

All authors have contributed to and read the paper and have given permission for their name to be included as co-authors. No sponsor funding has been used. None of the authors have received any financial support to develop this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Research Unit of Food Science and Human Nutrition, “Sapienza” University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Roma, Italy

    Laura Diolordi, Valeria del Balzo, Valeria Vitiello & Lorenzo Maria Donini

  2. Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Paola Bernabei

Authors
  1. Laura Diolordi
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  2. Valeria del Balzo
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  3. Paola Bernabei
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  4. Valeria Vitiello
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  5. Lorenzo Maria Donini
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Correspondence to Valeria del Balzo.

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Diolordi, L., del Balzo, V., Bernabei, P. et al. Eating habits and dietary patterns in children with autism. Eat Weight Disord 19, 295–301 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-014-0137-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-014-0137-0

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