Evaluation of nutritional situations and eating behaviors of autistic children

Evaluation of Nutritional Situations and Eating Behaviors of Autistic ChildrenThis study was conducted to determine the nutritional status and eating behaviors of children with autism between the ages of 6-15. The study was carried out in four special education and rehabilitation centers affiliated to the T.C. Directorate of National Education. The study sample consisted of 70 children aged 6-15 years. Socio-demographic information, the demographic characteristics of the child and the questionnaire about feeding were applied to the parents. Then Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) was administered to determine the eating behaviors of the children, and the frequency of food consumption and 3-day food consumption were recorded. The average age of mothers who participated in the study was 28.2 ± 4.8 years and the average age of their fathers was 32.2 ± 4.5 years. 31.4% of the families think that they have nutrition information for their children's illness. 70.0% of the children are boys and 30.0% are girls. The mean age of the children is 11.4 ± 3.0 years and the104mean age of diagnosis is 2.8 ± 0.8 years. 55.7% of the children are overweight and obese. The percentage of fat in 44.8% of children is higher than the normal range. 95.7% of children do not have any diet for their diseases. 65.7% of children are inclined to consume a food continuously. 28,3% of the children tend to consume abacky junk, 34,8% to eat fried potatoes, pasta, kısır, pizza, sucuk. 62.9% of children do not consume some foods at all. The foods that are not consumed are vegetables (38,6%), legumes, eggs, milk and fish (38,6%). Children receive an average of 45.7% of the energy they receive from carbohydrates, 14.0% from the protein and 38.3% from the oil. According to the BPFAS, 23.8% of the girls and 6.1% of the boys have eating problems. BPFAS scores decreased significantly with increasing age (p <0.05). Very weak and weak children have more eating problems than overweight and obese children (p <0.05). This study has shown that children with autism have the wrong eating habits, exhibit negative eating behaviors, and parents have insufficient knowledge about this subject. In this regard, employees in the special education centers where parents and children are educated should be informed and trained by specialists in order to gain proper nutrition habits.