Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Risk Factors for Overweight in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous literature suggests children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher prevalence of excess weight than typically developing (TD) children, but information addressing risk factor concordance between those with ASD and TD children is lacking. We used a retrospective analysis of children (N = 2610) who visited an Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (AS-ATN) center in the United States or Canada. This analysis occurred concurrently with two other research teams within AS-ATN. We found substantial agreement between predictors of weight in children with ASD and known correlates of obesity in typical children. These included Asian and Hispanic ethnicities, four medication groups, and psychopathological comorbidities such as aggression, anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms. The similarities of risk factors for weight between TD and ASD children will allow for use of existing protocols for weight interventions with minimal modification, saving resources otherwise spent pursuing new risk factors or treatments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achenbach, T. M. & Rescorla, L. (2001). Ratings of relations between DSM-IV diagnostic categories and items of the CBCL/11/2–5 and C-TRF.

  • Allison, D. B., Packer-Munter, W., Pietrobelli, A., Alfonso, V. C., & Faith, M. S. (1998). Obesity and developmental disabilities: pathogenesis and treatment. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 10(3), 215–255 Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1022888323684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aman, M. G., Lam, K. S. L., & Van Bourhandien, M. E. (2005). Medication patterns in patients with autism: temporal, regional, and demographic influences. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 15, 116–126. doi:10.1089/cap.2005.15.116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC.

  • American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5.). American Psychiatric Pub.

  • Atlantis, E., Barnes, E. H., & Sign, M. F. (2006). Efficacy of exercise for treating overweight in children and adolescents: a systematic review. International Journal of Obesity, 30(7), 1027–1040. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beaton, A.E. (1975). The influence of education and ability on salary and attitudes. In Education, income, and human behavior (pp. 365–396). NBER.

  • Beebe, D. W., Lewin, D., Zeller, M., McCabe, M., MacLeod, K., Daniels, S. R., & Amin, R. (2007). Sleep in overweight adolescents: shorter sleep, poorer sleep quality, sleepiness, and sleep-disordered breathing. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32(1), 69–79. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsj104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, J. G. (1987). Induction of obesity by psychotropic drugs. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 203–215. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1987.tb36212.x.

  • Blaine, B. (2008). Does depression cause obesity? A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies of depression and weight control. Journal of Health Psychology, 13(8), 1190–1197. doi:10.1177/1359105308095977.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, A. Y., Kim, S. E., Houtrow, A. J., & Newacheck, P. W. (2010). Prevalence of obesity among children with chronic conditions. Obesity, 18(1), 210–213. doi:10.1038/oby.2009.185.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Children’s BMI Group calculator – metric version 2010. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_BMI/tool_for_schools.html.

  • Conner, D. F., Grasso, D. J., Slivinsky, M. D., Pearson, G. S., PMH-CNS, F. A. A. N., & Banga, A. (2013). An open-label study of guanfacine extended release for treatment of stress related symptoms. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 23(4), 244–251. doi:10.1089/cap.2012.0119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Correll, C. U. (2007). Weight gain and metabolic effects of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics in pediatric bipolar disorder: a systematic review and pooled analysis of short-term trials. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(6), 687–700. doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e318040b25f.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cortese, S., Angriman, M., Maffeis, C., Isnard, P., Konofal, E., Lecendreux, M., Purper-Ouakil, D., Vincenzi, B., Bernardina, B. D., & Mouren, M. C. (2008). Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity: a systematic review of the literature. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 48, 524–537. doi:10.1080/10408390701540124.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Costello, E. J., Keeler, G. P., & Angold, A. (2001). Poverty, race/ethnicity and psychiatric disorder: a study of rural children. American Journal of Public Health, 91, 1494–1498. doi:10.2105/AJPH.91.9.1494.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Curtin, C., Bandini, L. G., Perrin, E. C., Tybor, D. J., & Must, A. (2005). Prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorders: a chart review. BMC Pediatrics, 5, 48. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-5-48.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Curtin, C., Anderson, S. E., Must, A., & Bandini, L. (2010). The prevalence of obesity in children with autism: a secondary data analysis using nationally representative data from the nation survey of Children’s health. BMC Pediatrics, 10, 11. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-10-11.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Daniels, S. R. (2006). The consequences of childhood overweight and obesity. The Future of Children, 16(1), 47–67 Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3556550.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Bildt, A., Kraijer, D., Sytema, S., & Minderaa, R. (2005). The psychometric properties of the Vineland adaptive behavior scales in children and adolescents with mental retardation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(1), 53–62. doi:10.1007/s10803-004-1033-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Vinck-Baroody, O., Shui, A., Macklin, E. A., Hyman, S. L., Leventhal, J. M., & Weitzman, C. (2015). Overweight and obesity in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorder. Academic Pediatrics, 15(4), 396–404. doi:10.1016/j.acap.2015.03.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deckelbaum, R. J., & Williams, C. L. (2001). Childhood obesity: the health issue. Obesity Research, 9(S4), 239S–243S. doi:10.1038/oby.2001.125.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dietz, W. H. (1997). Periods of risk in childhood for the development of adult obesity—what do we need to learn? The Journal of Nutrition, 127(9), 1884S–1886S Retrieved from http://jn.nutrition.org/content/127/9/1884S.long.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dockray, S., Susman, E. J., & Dorn, L. D. (2009). Depression, cortisol reactivity, and obesity in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45, 344–350. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.06.014.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ebbeling, C. B., Pawlak, D. B., & Ludwig, D. S. (2002). Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. The Lancet, 360, 473–482. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(02)09678-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faraone, S. V., Biederman, J., Morley, C. P., & Spencer, T. J. (2008). Effect of stimulants on height and weight: a review of the literature. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(9), 994–1009. doi:10.1097/CHI.ObO13e31817eOea7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farmer, C. A., & Aman, M. G. (2011). Aggressive behavior in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 317–323. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, J. M. (2001). SSRI antidepressant medications: adverse effects and tolerability. Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 3(1), 22–27. doi:10.4088/PCC.v03n0105.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Flint, J., Kothare, S. V., Zihlif, M., Suarez, E., Adams, R., Legido, A., & DeLuca, F. (2007). Associations of inadequate sleep and insulin resistance in obese children. Journal of Pediatrics, 150(4), 364–369. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2006.08.063.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, D. S., Khan, L. K., Dietz, W. H., Srinivasan, S. R., & Berenson, G. S. (2001). Relationship of childhood obesity to coronary heart disease risk factors in adulthood: the Bogalusa heart study. Pediatrics, 108(3), 712–718. doi:10.1542/peds.108.3.712.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, D. S., Khan, L. K., Serdula, M. K., Dietz, W. H., Srinivasan, S. R., & Berenson, G. S. (2004). Inter-relationships among childhood BMI, childhood height, and adult obesity: the Bogalusa heart study. International Journal of Obesity, 28, 10–16. doi:10.1038/sj.ito.0802544.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, D. S., Mei, Z., Srinivasan, S. R., Berenson, G. S., & Dietz, W. H. (2007). Cardiovascular risk factors and excess adiposity among overweight children and adolescents: the Bogalusa heart study. The Journal of Pediatrics, 150(1), 12–17. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2006.08.042.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grondhuis, S. N., & Aman, M. G. (2013). Overweight and obesity in youth with developmental disabilities: a call to action. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. doi:10.1111/jir.12090.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, A. P., Zuckerman, K. E., & Fombonne, E. (2015). Obesity and autism. Pediatrics, 136(6) peds-2015. doi:10.1542/peds.2015-1437.

  • Hollway, J. A., & Aman, M. G. (2011). Sleep correlates of pervasive developmental disorders: a review of the literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32, 1399–1421. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.04.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • IBM Corp (2010). IBM SPSS statistics for windows, version 19.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ito, J. (2006). Brief research report: obesity and its related health problems in people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Poly and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 3(2), 129–132. doi:10.1111/j.1741-1130.2006.00064.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain, R., Segal, S., Kollins, S. H., & Khayrallah, M. (2011). Clonidine extended-release tablets for pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(2), 171–179. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2010.11.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, K. A. (2006). The (relative) risks of using odds ratios. Archives of Dermatology, 142, 761–764. doi:10.1001/archderm.142.6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kollins, S. H., Jain, R., Brams, M., Segal, S., Findling, R. L., Wigal, S. B., & Khayrallah, M. (2011). Clonidine extended-release tablets as add-on therapy to psychostimulants in children and adolescents with ADHD. Pediatrics, 127(6), e1406–e1413. doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1260.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lauderdale, D. S., & Rathouz, P. J. (2000). Body mass index in a US national sample of Asian Americans: effects of nativity, years since immigration and socioeconomic status. International Journal of Obesity, 24(9), 1188–1194. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0801365.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Little, R. J. (1988). A test of missing completely at random for multivariate data with missing values. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 83(404), 1198–1202 Retrieved from http://medrescon.tripod.com/docs/little_paper.pdf.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobstein, T., Baur, L., & Uauy, R. (2004). Obesity in children and young people: a crisis in public health. Obesity Reviews, 5(s1), 4–85. doi:10.1111/j.1467-789X.2004.00133x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., et al. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule—generic: a standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(3), 205–223. doi:10.1023/A:1005592401947.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, M., Esposito, P., & Ulrich, D. (2011). The physical activity patterns of children with autism. BMC Research Notes, 4(1), 422. doi:10.1186/1756-0500-4-422.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Memari, A.H. & Ziaee, V. (2014). Overweight and obesity epidemic: Weight status in individuals with autism. In Comprehensive Guide to Autism (pp. 1955–1971). New York: Springer.

  • Memari, A. H., Kordi, R., Ziaee, V., Mirfazeli, F. S., & Setoodeh, M. S. (2012). Weight status in Iranian children with autism spectrum disorders: investigation of underweight, overweight and obesity. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(1), 234–239. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2011.05.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mustillo, S., Worthman, C., Erkanli, A., Keeler, G., Angold, A., & Costello, E. J. (2003). Obesity and psychiatric disorders: developmental trajectories. Pediatrics, 111(4), 851–859. doi:10.1542/peds.111.4.851.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, C. L., Yanovski, S. Z., Carroll, M. D., & Flegal, K. M. (2007). The epidemiology of obesity. Gastroenterology, 132, 2087–2102. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2007.03.052.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Owens, J. A., Spirito, A., & McGuinn, M. (2000). The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ): psychometric properties of a survey instrument for school-aged children. Sleep, 23(8), 1043–1052 Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11145319.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palumbo, D. R., Sallee, F. R., Pelham, W. E., Bukstein, O. G., Daviss, W. B., McDermott, M. P., & CAT Study Team (2008). Clonidine for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: I. Efficacy and tolerability outcomes. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(2), 180–188. doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e31815d9af7.

  • Pandolfi, V., Magyar, C. I., & Dill, C. A. (2009). Confirmatory factor analysis of the child behavior checklist 1.5-5 in a sample of children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 986–995. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0716-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, K. L., Schieve, L. A., Visser, S., Boulet, S., Sharma, A. J., Kogan, M. D., Boyle, C. A., & Yeargin-Allsopp, M. (2014). Prevalence and impact of unhealthy weight in a national sample of US adolescents with autism and other learning and behavioral disabilities. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18(8), 1964–1975. doi:10.1007/s10995-014-1442-y.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pitetti, K. H., Rendoff, A. D., Grover, T., & Beets, M. W. (2007). The efficacy of a 9-month treadmill walking program on the exercise capacity and weight reduction for adolescents with severe autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(6), 997–1006. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0238-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roid, G. H. (2003). Stanford Binet Intelligence Scales (5th ed.). Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roid, G. H., & Miller, L. J. (1997). Leiter international performance scale-revised. Wood Dale, IL: Stoelting Col.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royston, P., Altman, D. G., & Sauerbrei, W. (2006). Dichotomizing continuous predictors in multiple regression: a bad idea. Statistics in Medicine, 25(1), 127–141. doi:10.1002/sim.2331.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharp, A. M., Pawlak, R., & Ding, Q. (2014). Weight status and growth patterns among children with autism living in North Carolina. Topics in Clinical Nutrition, 29(1), 10–14. doi:10.1097/01.TIN.0000443022.75534.3b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simonoff, E., Pickles, A., Charman, T., Chandler, S., Loucas, T., & Baird, G. (2008). Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47(8), 921–929. doi:10.1097/CHI.0b013e318179964f.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Balla, D. A. (2005). Vineland adaptive behavior scales, second Ed. In Survey forms manual. Bloomington, MN: NCS Pearson, Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Spruyt, K., & Gozal, D. (2011). Pediatric sleep questionnaires as diagnostic or epidemiological tools: a review of currently available instruments. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 15(1), 19–32. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2010.07.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Streiner, D. L. (2002). Breaking up is hard to do: the heartbreak of dichotomizing continuous data. Canadian Journal of Pcyhiatry, 47(3), 262–265. doi:10.1177/070674370204700307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suissa, S. (1991). Binary methods for continuous outcomes: a parametric alternative. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 44(3), 241–248 Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0895435691900358.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tajeu, G. S., Sen, B., Allison, D. B., & Menachemi, N. (2012). Misuse of odds ratios in obesity literature: an empirical analysis of published studies. Obesity, 20(8), 1726–1731. doi:10.1038/oby.2012.71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2002). WPPSI-III: administration and scoring manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2004). WISC-IV: administration and scoring manual. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment, Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Wernicke, J. F., & Kratochvil, C. J. (2002). Safety profile of atomoxetine in the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 63(S12), 50–55 Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12562062.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wetterling, T. (2001). Bodyweight gain with atypical antipsychotics: a comparative review. Drug Safety, 24(1), 59–73. doi:10.2165/00002018-200124010-00005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2000). Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. (No. 894). World Health Organization.

  • Xiong, N., Ji, C., Li, Y., He, Z., Bo, H., & Zhao, Y. (2009). The physical status of children with autism in China. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30(1), 70–76. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2007.11.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This Network activity was supported by Autism Speaks and cooperative agreement UA3 MC11054 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program to the Massachusetts General Hospital. This work was conducted through the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Millsaps College, 1701 N. State Street, Jackson, MS, 39210, USA

    Sabrina N. Grondhuis

  2. The Ohio State University, 1581 Dodd Dr, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Michael G. Aman

Authors
  1. Sabrina N. Grondhuis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael G. Aman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sabrina N. Grondhuis.

Ethics declarations

Funding

No research funding was obtained by the authors for this manuscript. The Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network generously provided us with use of their database to make these analyses possible.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study at the assessment site per AS-ATN protocol.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no additional conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Grondhuis, S.N., Aman, M.G. Risk Factors for Overweight in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Dev Phys Disabil 29, 241–263 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-016-9522-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-016-9522-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation