Dataset Information

Child ADHD and autistic traits, eating behaviours and weight: A population-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have an increased obesity risk. Although these conditions commonly co-occur, shared factors relating to obesity risk are unknown.

Objectives

To examine the shared and unique associations of ADHD and autistic traits with eating behaviours and BMI.

Methods

Children (N = 4134) from the population-based Generation R Study were categorized into subgroups based on parent-reported ADHD and autistic traits scores at 6 years: ADHD_High , ASD_High , ADHD+ASD_High and REF (reference group: ADHD+ASD_Low ). Multiple linear regressions examined the associations between subgroups and eating behaviours (at 10 years) and BMIz (at 14 years), relative to REF. Mediation analyses tested the indirect effect of subgroup and BMIz through eating behaviours.

Results

ADHD + ASD_High children expressed both food approach (increased food responsiveness and emotional overeating) and avoidant eating behaviours (increased emotional undereating, satiety responsiveness/ slowness in eating and picky eating, and decreased enjoyment in food). ASD_High children were more food avoidant, while ADHD_High children had more food approach behaviours and greater BMIz. ADHD_High and BMIz were indirectly associated with food responsiveness and emotional overeating.

Conclusions

ADHD and autistic trait phenotypes show distinct associations with potential obesity risk factors, and further research is needed to improve targeted early intervention.

SUBMITTER: Harris HA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9786764 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Child ADHD and autistic traits, eating behaviours and weight: A population-based study.

Harris Holly A HA Bowling April A Santos Susana S Greaves-Lord Kirstin K Jansen Pauline W PW

Pediatric obesity 20220624 11

<h4>Background</h4>Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have an increased obesity risk. Although these conditions commonly co-occur, shared factors relating to obesity risk are unknown.<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine the shared and unique associations of ADHD and autistic traits with eating behaviours and BMI.<h4>Methods</h4>Children (N = 4134) from the population-based Generation R Study were categorized into subgroups based on parent-re ...[more]

PMID: 35751176

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Project description:BackgroundChildren with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) tend to be selective in their food intake, which may compromise their diet quality. While ASD diagnoses capture severe levels of impairment, autistic traits vary on a continuum throughout the population. Yet, little is known about how autistic traits relate to diet quality at the population level.ObjectivesThis study examines the association between autistic traits in early childhood and diet quality in mid-childhood and explores the mediating role of food selectivity.MethodsParticipants were children (n = 4092) from the population-based Generation R Study. Parents reported their child's autistic traits at 1.5, 3, and 6 years; food selectivity at 4 years; and food intake at 8 years, from which a diet quality score was derived. Associations of autistic traits and the autistic trait trajectory (identified using Latent Class Growth Modelling) with diet quality were examined using multiple linear regression models. The indirect effect of food selectivity in the association between autistic traits at 1.5 years and diet quality was examined using mediation analysis.ResultsAutistic traits were associated with diet quality (e.g., 1.5 years: β = -0.09; 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.06). Two classes captured the autistic trait trajectories from 1.5 to 6 years: children with "low and stable" (95%) and "high and increasing" (5%) mean scores. Children in the high and increasing group had poorer diet quality than those in the low and stable group (β = -0.28; 95% CI: -0.44 to -0.11). Food selectivity mediated the association between autistic traits at 1.5 years and diet quality at 8 years (βindirect = -0.03; 95% CI: -0.03 to -0.02).ConclusionsAutistic traits in early childhood are associated with poorer diet quality in mid-childhood, and food selectivity appears to mediate this association. Interventions intended to optimize nutrition in children with elevated autistic traits may integrate behavioral strategies to support parents' responding to their child's food selectivity.

Project description:Individual differences in children's eating behaviours emerge early. We examined the relationship between breastfeeding exposure and subsequent eating behaviours among children from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort. Children (n = 970) were grouped according to their breastfeeding exposure: high (full breastfeeding ≥ 4 months with continued breastfeeding ≥ 6 months), low (any breastfeeding < 3 months or no breastfeeding) and intermediate (between low and high breastfeeding categories). Aspects of eating behaviour from ages 15 months to 6 years were captured using a combination of maternal reports (Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire; Infant Feeding Questionnaire; Preschooler Feeding Questionnaire) and laboratory-based measures of meal size, oral processing behaviours (e.g. average eating speed and bite size) and tendency to eat in the absence of hunger. Most children had low (44%) or intermediate (44%) breastfeeding exposure; only 12% had high exposure. After adjusting for confounders, multivariable linear regression analyses indicated the high (but not intermediate) breastfeeding group was associated with significantly lower reported food fussiness at 3 years compared to low breastfeeding group (-0.38 [-0.70, -0.06]), with similar but non-significant trends observed at 6 years (-0.27 [-0.66, 0.11]). At 3 years, mothers in the high breastfeeding group also reported the least difficulty in child feeding compared to low breastfeeding group (-0.22 [-0.43, -0.01]). However, high breastfeeding was not associated with any other maternal-reports of child feeding or eating behaviours, and no significant associations were observed between breastfeeding exposure and any of the laboratory measures of eating behaviour at any of the time points. These results do not strongly support the view that increased breastfeeding exposure alone has lasting and consistent associations with eating behaviours in early childhood.

Dataset Information

Child ADHD and autistic traits, eating behaviours and weight: A population-based study.

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Child ADHD and autistic traits, eating behaviours and weight: A population-based study.

Similar Datasets

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