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

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Kristen Criado, Emory University; William Sharp, Emory University; Courtney E. McCracken, Emory University; Oana De Vinck-Baroody, Hackensack University; Liansai Dong, Emory University; Michael G. Aman, Ohio University; Christopher J. McDougle, Massachusetts General Hospital; James T. McCracken, University of California Los Angeles; L. Eugene Arnold, Ohio University; Carol Weitzman, Yale University; John M. Leventhal, Yale University; Benedetto Vitiello, National Institute of Mental Health; Lawrence Scahill, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-05-01
• Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2017.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1362361316683888
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Autism
• ISSN: 1362-3613
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 450
• End Page: 459
• Grant/Funding Information: Study medications were provided by Janssen Pharmaceutica and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development.; This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health [N01MH80011 to Dr. Aman, N01MH70001 to Dr. McDougle, N01MH70010 to Dr. J McCracken, N01MH70009 to Dr. Scahill, U10MH66768 to The Ohio State University, U10MH66766 to Indiana University, U10MH66764 to Yale University, K23 MH068627 to Dr. Posey, and K24 MH001805 to Dr. J. McCracken]; General Clinical Research Centers, National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health [M01 RR00750 to Indiana University, M01 RR00052 to Johns Hopkins University, M01 RR00034 to The Ohio State University, and M01 RR06022 to Yale University]; and the Korczak Foundation [to Dr. Scahill].
• Keywords: GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS; prevalence; risperidone; RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL; Psychology; TYPICALLY DEVELOPING-CHILDREN; Psychology, Developmental; PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS; WEIGHT-GAIN; YOUNG-CHILDREN; BODY-MASS INDEX; NUTRIENT INTAKE; National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys; ADOLESCENTS; Social Sciences; CHILDHOOD OBESITY
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Health Sciences, Public Health

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.