Novel Insights into Obesity in Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Obesity is present in 8-32% of the children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, most studies are performed in school-aged children from the USA. The current study compares obesity rates of Dutch preschoolers with ASD with children from the Dutch general population and explores which child- and parental factors are related to obesity in children with ASD. This cross-sectional study is part of the ongoing Tandem Study (Dutch Trial register: NL7534). Seventy-eight children with ASD aged 3-7 years and their parents (77 mothers, 67 fathers) participated. Child factors are: Body Mass Index (by physical measurement), child eating behavior (Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire), child problem behavior (Child Behavior Checklist), and ASD severity (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale 2). Parental factors are: BMI (by physical measurement), parental eating behavior (Dutch Eating Behavior Inventory), parenting stress (The Parenting Stress Questionnaire) and highest completed educational level (SES). Children with ASD were 8 times more often obese (16.8%) than children from the general population (2.0%). Child BMI correlated positively with child food approach behavior and maternal BMI, and correlated negatively with child 'Slowness in eating'. There was no correlation between child BMI and ASD severity, problem behavior, parental eating behavior, parental stress and SES. Thus, Dutch, preschool children with ASD have 8 times higher obesity rates than children from the general population. More attention to obesity risk in research and clinical care could contribute to the quality of life of individuals with ASD and their families. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial register, NL7534, https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NL7534 .