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. 2022 Sep;52(9):4035-4043.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05275-3. Epub 2021 Sep 15.

The Association Between Obesity and Key Health or Psychosocial Outcomes Among Autistic Adults: A Systematic Review

Daniel G Gilmore  1 , Anne Longo  2 , Brittany N Hand  2
Affiliations

The Association Between Obesity and Key Health or Psychosocial Outcomes Among Autistic Adults: A Systematic Review

Daniel G Gilmore et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Obesity is linked with health and psychosocial outcomes among many populations. However, it is unclear the extent to which obesity is linked with these outcomes among autistic adults. We searched seven research databases for articles examining the association between obesity and autistic adults' health and psychosocial outcomes. Three studies found that obesity was associated with health outcomes, including: in-hospital mortality, risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and number of co-occurring medical conditions. One study found no significant association between autism diagnosis, mental health conditions, and body mass index. Obesity increases the risk of in-hospital mortality and some chronic conditions among autistic adults, highlighting the need for clinicians trained to promote weight management among autistic adults.

Keywords: Autism; Health outcomes; Obesity.

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