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. 2018 May;22(4):450-459.
doi: 10.1177/1362361316683888. Epub 2017 Mar 22.

Overweight and obese status in children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behavior

Kristen K Criado  1   2 , William G Sharp  1   2 , Courtney E McCracken  1 , Oana De Vinck-Baroody  3 , Liansai Dong  1 , Michael G Aman  4 , Christopher J McDougle  5   6 , James T McCracken  7 , L Eugene Arnold  4 , Carol Weitzman  8 , John M Leventhal  8 , Benedetto Vitiello  9 , Lawrence Scahill  1   2
Affiliations

Overweight and obese status in children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behavior

Kristen K Criado et al. Autism. 2018 May.

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are common in pediatric populations. Children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behavior may be at higher risk. This study examined whether children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behavior are more likely to be overweight or obese than matched controls. Baseline data from medication-free children with autism spectrum disorder who participated in trials conducted by the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology Autism Network (N = 276) were compared to 544 control children from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database matched on age, sex, race, parent education, and era of data collection. The mean age of the children with autism spectrum disorder was 7.9 ± 2.6 years; 84.4% were males. In the autism spectrum disorder group, the prevalence was 42.4% for overweight and 21.4% for obesity compared to 26.1% for overweight and 12.0% for obesity among controls (p < 0.001 for each contrast). Within the autism spectrum disorder sample, obesity was associated with minority status and lower daily living skills. These findings suggest that children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behavior are at increased risk for obesity and underscore the need for weight management interventions in this population.

Keywords: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys; prevalence; risperidone.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement

Dr. Aman has received research contracts, consulted with, served on advisory boards, or done investigator training for CogState, Inc., CogState Clinical Trials, Ltd., Coronado Biosciences, Forest Research, Hoffman-La Roche, Lumos Pharma, MedAvante, Inc., ProPhase LLC, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals. Dr. J. McCracken has received NIMH research grant and contract funds; consultant income from Roche; research contract support from Seaside Pharmaceuticals and Roche; speaker honoraria from the Tourette Syndrome Association; and study drug and placebo from Shire. Dr. Arnold has received research funding from, Forest, Lilly, Shire, Supernus, and Young Living (as well as NIH and Autism Speaks) and has consulted with or been on advisory boards for Arbor, Otsuka, Pfizer, Roche, Seaside Therapeutics, and Waypoint. Dr. Vitiello has received salary support from NIH, and consultant fees from the American Physician Institute for Advanced Professional Studies. No other authors have potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with ASD versus controls
Comparison for overweight: 42.4% in ASD vs. 26.1% in controls; p < 0.001; OR = 2.1; 95% CI [1.5 – 2.8]; Comparison for obesity: 21.4% in ASD vs. 12.0% in controls; p < 0.001; OR = 2.0; 95% CI [1.4 – 3.0]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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