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Exploring Self-Reported Eating Disorder Symptoms in Autistic Men
Emma Kinnaird1, Felicity Sedgewick1, Catherine Stewart1,2
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Autism in Adulthood : Challenges and Management
|January 5, 2023
Summary
Autistic men show higher eating disorder (ED) symptoms, particularly in eating, shape, and weight concerns, compared to nonautistic men. These symptoms are linked to anxiety and BMI, not autistic traits, suggesting a need for broader ED symptom assessment in autistic males.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Eating Disorder Studies
Background:
- Limited research explores eating disorders (EDs) in autistic men, despite a known link between EDs and autism.
- Existing studies predominantly focus on autistic women and autistic traits in women with anorexia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether autistic men exhibit heightened ED symptoms compared to nonautistic men.
- To examine the relationship between ED symptoms, autistic traits, anxiety, depression, and body mass index (BMI) in autistic men.
Main Methods:
- An online study recruited 103 autistic and nonautistic men.
- Self-report measures assessed ED symptoms, autistic features, anxiety, depression, and BMI.
Main Results:
- Autistic men reported significantly higher ED symptoms in eating, shape, and weight concerns, and global scores.
- Autistic men showed lower scores in dietary restraint compared to nonautistic men.
- Global ED scores correlated with anxiety and BMI in autistic men, but not with autistic traits.
Conclusions:
- Heightened ED symptoms in autistic men may be associated with anxiety and higher BMI, rather than autistic traits.
- Autistic men may experience ED symptoms beyond dietary restraint, warranting broader assessment.
- Further research is recommended to explore the interplay of anxiety, BMI, and disordered eating in autism.
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