How Does Autism Affect Eating Behaviors?
20th September 2022
Did you know that 70% of all children with autism exhibit very typical kind, atypical eating behaviours? Yes, at least 15 times more than that of neurotypical children. In all cases, children with autism have a higher risk of an eating disorder than that general children. Eating disorders are quite serious mental health disorders and are closely related to autism.
Children with acute autism often experience sensory issues and tend to hyper focus on specific foods, which can lead to picky eating, food avoidance and food refusal. However, this is different from an eating disorder and can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Common Eating Disorders In Autism
A total estimate of 20% to 30% of children with an eating disorder show signs of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is because autism and eating disorders commonly overlap. It is mainly related to a combination of factors that is inclusive of genetics, biology and certain environmental aspects too.
Autistic traits could potentially predispose someone to develop an eating disorder too. Studies have found that higher rates of anxiety and depression in children with autism could actually contribute to unhealthy coping mechanisms regarding food and eating. Autistic children in general have sensory issues and are hyper focus on specific foods.
Anorexia
One of the most commonly recognized eating disorders is anorexia nervosa. It exhibits a compulsive rush and drives to lose weight, characterized by self-starvation to an extreme extent and severely limiting calorie intake. Children as well as people with anorexia have a distorted body image and continuously view themselves as fat regardless of how thin they are. The extreme controlling of food and calorie intake can be a method of establishing some form of control or a coping mechanism for autistic traits. There are sensory differences related to food in anorexia.
Bulimia
Bulimia nervosa is a pattern of uncontrollable binge eating followed by compensating behaviour such as purging, fasting, excessive exercise and overuse of diuretics or laxatives. Children as well as people with bulimia can be an average weight or either under or overweight.
Pica
This is an appetite for non-food items that causes a person to eat and digest items like paper, soap, clothing, pebbles etc. This is a common issue for children with autism often related to a need for sensory feedback and the sensory stimulation eating non-food items can cause. Pica can also be connected to a craving for a specific nutrient in which the child is deficient.
Factors that trigger anxiety in kids with Autism Spectrum
Binge Eating
Binge eating equals eating large quantities at once without the purging behaviour of ‘bulimia’. This is the reason or a result that Children as well as individuals with tendency and a trait of binge eating have all proven symptoms of being overweight. Children with autism have ingrained habits and an unhealthy relationship with food including binge eating.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
This disorder involves restricting and limiting food but is not related to a distorted body image. This typical attribute is very common with children suffering from autism and children suffering from this usually do not take food in proper quality and quantity and thus have nutrition quotient problems in their bodies and major distortions while growing up.
What foods should be avoided with autism?
Experts say these are common foods that may cause issues in children with autism:
- Milk and other dairy products.
- Wheat products.
- High-sugar foods.
- Processed meats.
Instead of the above-mentioned foods, try adding following foods to their diet with the help of their treatment squad:
- Beans like navy beans, pinto beans, and black beans
- Peanuts and peanut butter
- Sunflower seeds
- Eggs
- Seafood
- Chia seeds
- Almonds and almond milk
- Dried figs and apricots
- Cruciferous vegetables like kale and broccoli
- Spinach
- Fortified breakfast cereal
- Lentils
- Dark chocolate, as an occasional sweet treat
- Lean beef, turkey, and chicken
- Oatmeal
- Green peas
- Melons like cantaloupe
- Tomatoes and tomato juice
- Carrots
- Sweet red pepper
- Pumpkin
- Citrus like oranges and grapefruit
- Mushrooms
- Beet greens
- Butternut squash
- Rice
- Onions and garlic
To end with, autism is closely related to acute eating disorders and children suffering from either of it need to have treatment in place. Eating and feeding patterns can affect, hamper and dominate family life.
Online Special Education Courses in Singapore is something that you can think about! It is natural to get overwhelmed when severe eating problems and disorders are extremely closely tied with a child all over growth and development. In such a situation, apt medical attention is a must. There are sensory differences related to food that cannot be overlooked.
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