Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Genetic analysis of very obese children with autism spectrum disorder
Herman D Cortes1, Rachel Wevrick2
1Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Insights
Very obese children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show distinct behavioral and genetic differences. This research highlights the importance of identifying comorbidities for personalized ASD treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social interaction, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors.
- Obesity is a common comorbidity in syndromic ASD, alongside intellectual disability and seizures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate behavioral, physical, and genetic differences in very obese children with ASD compared to non-obese children with ASD.
- To explore potential biological pathways associated with obesity in ASD.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of behavioral test scores between obese and non-obese children with ASD.
- Assessment of cognitive (IQ) and behavioral impairments (stereotypies, communication, social skills, irritability, oppositional defiant behavior).
- Genetic analysis to identify lesions and enriched biological pathways in a subset of children with ASD and obesity.
Main Results:
- Very obese children with ASD scored significantly lower on standardized behavioral tests.
- Obese boys with ASD exhibited lower IQ and greater impairments in stereotypies, communication, and social skills.
- Obese girls with ASD showed increased irritability and oppositional defiant behavior.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is associated with distinct behavioral and cognitive profiles in children with ASD.
- Identifying comorbidities like obesity is crucial for understanding ASD's biological underpinnings.
- This research supports the development of customized treatments targeting diverse genetic factors in ASD.
Abstract:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by the triad of deficits in social interactions, deficits in communication, and repetitive behaviors. Common co-morbidities in syndromic forms of ASD include intellectual disability, seizures, and obesity. We asked whether very obese children with ASD had different behavioral, physical and genetic characteristics compared to children with ASD who were not obese. We found that very obese children with ASD had significantly poorer scores on standardized behavioral tests. Very obese boys with ASD had lower full scale IQ and increased impairments with respect to stereotypies, communication and social skills. Very obese girls with ASD had increased impairments with respect to irritability and oppositional defiant behavior. We identified genetic lesions in a subset of the children with ASD and obesity and attempted to identify enriched biological pathways. Our study demonstrates the value of identifying co-morbidities in children with ASD as we move forward towards understanding the biological processes that contribute to this complex disorder and prepare to design customized treatments that target the diverse genetic lesions present in individuals with ASD.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
02:37The Electromagnetic Spectrum
01:24The Electromagnetic Spectrum
01:24Obesity
01:19IR Spectrum
Transmittance is defined as the ratio of the radiant power passing through a sample to that from the radiation's source. Multiplying the transmittance by 100 gives the percent transmittance (%T), which varies between 100% (no absorption) and 0%...
01:35Pedigree Analysis