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Healthy-Weight Kindergarten Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder May Become Overweight and Obese during the First

Misha Eliasziw1, Tanja V E Kral2, Mary Segal3

  • 1Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.

The Journal of Pediatrics: X
|June 19, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk of becoming overweight or obese between first and second grade. This critical period highlights the need for early intervention and prevention strategies for ASD-related weight gain.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects childhood development and health.
  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
  • Longitudinal data is crucial for understanding developmental trajectories.

Observation:

  • Analysis utilized a nationally-representative longitudinal sample from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11.
  • The study tracked children's weight status from kindergarten through second grade.
  • Focus was on children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Findings:

  • A significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed among children with ASD.
  • This weight gain occurred between first and second grade, indicating a critical developmental window.
  • Healthy-weight children with ASD were found to transition to overweight or obese categories during this period.

Implications:

  • Identifies a critical period for targeted interventions to prevent unhealthy weight gain in children with ASD.
  • Suggests the need for early screening and management of weight-related health issues in this population.
  • Informs the development of tailored prevention and treatment strategies for childhood obesity in the context of ASD.

Keywords:
body mass indexchildhood developmentintellectual disability

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