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. 2022 Sep;54(9):853-862.
doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2022.01.008. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Pilot Study of a Virtual Nutrition Intervention for Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Acadia W Buro  1 , Heewon L Gray  2 , Russell S Kirby  2 , Jennifer Marshall  2 , Mikaela Strange  2 , Syed Hasan  2 , Jamie Holloway  3
Affiliations

Pilot Study of a Virtual Nutrition Intervention for Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Acadia W Buro et al. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: Examine the impact of a virtual nutrition education program, Bringing Adolescent Learners with Autism Nutrition and Culinary Education (BALANCE), on dietary intake and psychosocial determinants of healthy eating in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: A sample of AYA with ASD aged 12-21 years (n = 27; 6 groups of 2-7 adolescents) participated in BALANCE, a Social Cognitive Theory-based intervention, for eight 30-45-minute lessons. Outcomes were compared using a pre-post design and included dietary intake (assessed using a food frequency questionnaire) and psychosocial determinants of healthy eating (assessed by a validated survey). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared preintervention and postintervention medians with an alpha level of 0.05.

Results: Mean added sugar intake (P = 0.026) decreased, and behavioral strategies (P = 0.010), self-efficacy (P < 0.001), and outcome expectations (P = 0.009) improved. There was no difference in fruit or vegetable intake or other psychosocial determinants.

Conclusions and implications: The BALANCE intervention may improve psychosocial determinants and dietary behaviors in AYA with ASD. Future virtual programs may incorporate more assistance and support to be accessible for AYA with ASD of varying severity levels.

Keywords: Social Cognitive Theory; adolescents; autism; eHealth; nutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors have not stated any conflicts of interest.

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