Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined as a neuro-developmental disorder with social interaction impairments and stereotypic behaviors [1], which may affect an individual’s health status and quality of life. It has been reported that individuals diagnosed with ASD face a lot of health-related challenges during their life span, which has become one of the health concerns due to an increase in the incidence of ASD all around the world [2,3]. Despite the fact that the health community is facing an ascending trend in the incidence of ASD, the reason for ASD is not well known yet, but it seems it can be caused both genetically, such as gene mutations, and environmental causes, including nutrient deficiencies, stress, occupation, and parental health complications [4]. According to Center of Disease Control (CDC), the incidence of ASD has gained a growing trend within the past few years, which has increased the demand for preventative and management strategies (Katz, J., et al., 2020).

Although there are several health-related complications introduced as common challenges among individuals with ASD [5], overweight and obesity seem to be considered the leading causes of several health challenges, including metabolic impairments and other chronic diseases. Although there are inconsistent results from the previous studies, it is suggested that the risk of overweight and obesity is higher in ASD [6]. There are several reasons for overweight and obesity in individuals with ASD, including medication [7], poor dietary patterns, an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, and physical inactivity [8].

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity as indicators of diabetes, insulin resistance, and cardio metabolic complications among individuals with ASD.

Figure 1: ASD and health overview.

Participants

Participants in this study were individuals diagnosed with ASD aged 11-13 years old (12.60±2.39) who were randomly selected from available clients. Before the study, an invitation letter was sent to the families, and volunteer participants were invited to participate in an introduction session. All of the study's purpose and protocols were explained to the participants. Among all the participants whose caregivers were interested in participating in this assessment, 10 were randomly selected for the study. A letter of consent was signed by the families, and all of the assessment procedures were explained for the second time. Families were asked to ask any questions in case of any doubt. Participants were able to leave the study if there was no further tendency for cooperation. As we had different individuals on the ASD spectrum, we tried to select participants with similar situations, including medication or different types of therapies they received during their daily lives.

Weight assessment

In order to assess participants weight, a Seca scale was used, and the participants weight was measured with the lightest clothes and without shoes. Participants were asked not to eat or drink a lot before measuring their weight, and preferably after using the toilet.

As the participants were under 18 years old, the CDC weight for age chart was used as a reference base for weight assessment. After measuring the participants weight, all of the data were recorded in the client’s medical file. Each participant received his own CDC weight for age chart, and the weight was marked in the chart in order to assess his status. The mean and standard deviation (SD) were measured for the recorded data, which were equal to 51.67±2.13.

Figure 2: Study fellow chart.

The purpose of this study was to assess weight status in individuals with ASD as an indicator of overweight and obesity, which may predict the risk of chronic disease in the future. The results from this assessment indicated that the weight and age of the participants were significantly higher in comparison to the normal range suggested by the CDC.

The results from this assessment have indicated that individuals diagnosed with ASD may be at greater risk of overweight and obesity in comparison to their neurotypically developed siblings. As overweight and obesity are considered leading causes of many diseases, including metabolic impairments, the planning and recruiting of effective interventions seems crucial for these individuals. As each individual is different from his or her siblings and due to biological variation, any intervention should be specifically designed and prescribed according to biological and physiological characteristics and with regard to medication, physical status, and adhered therapies under specialist supervision. Further studies are recommended to assess whether individuals with ASD are affected by overweight and obesity and how medication or lifestyle-related indicators affect their health.

1. Lord C, Elsabbagh M, Baird G, Veenstra-Vanderweele J. Autism spectrum disorder. The Lancet. 2018; 392: 508-520.
2. Taylor MJ, Rosenqvist MA, Larsson H, Gillberg C, D'Onofrio BM, Lichtenstein P, et al. Etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Autistic Traits Over Time. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020; 77: 936-943.
3. Knopf A. Describing childhood ACEs found to reduce stigma related to substance use. The Brown University Child & Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update. 2020; 22: 1-5.
4. Yoon SH, Choi J, Lee WJ, Do JT. Genetic and Epigenetic Etiology Underlying Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Clinical Medicine.2020; 9: 966.
5. Colvert E, Simonoff E, Capp SJ, Ronald A, Bolton P, Happe F. Autism spectrum disorder and mental health problems: Patterns of difficulties and longitudinal trajectories in a population-based twin sample. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 2022; 1-15.
6. Sammels O, Karjalainen L, Dahlgren J, Wentz E. Autism spectrum disorder and obesity in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Facts. 2022; 15: 305-320.
7. Healy S, Aigner CJ, Haegele JA. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among US youth with autism spectrum disorder. Autism. 2019; 23: 1046-1050.
8. Karatay G, Hulusi ALP. Intervation with Physical Activity and Dietary Adolescent Obese Individuals with A-typical Autism. Spor Bilimleri Arastirmalari Dergisi. 2023; 8: 600-612.
9. Weir E, Allison C, Ong KK, Baron-Cohen S. An investigation of the diet, exercise, sleep, BMI, and health outcomes of autistic adults. Molecular autism. 2021; 12: 1-14.