Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Obesity, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and Objectives Previous literature using small sample sizes and limited geographic areas report that overweight/obesity and physical inactivity occur at higher rates among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to typically developing peers. The purpose of this study was to examine obesity, overweight, physical activity, and sedentary behavior among children and youth with and without ASD using nationally representative data and controlling for secondary conditions, including intellectual and learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delay, and other mental, physical, and medical conditions, as well as medication use. Methods Data were collected from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, a cross-sectional survey of 65,680 (weighted N = 49,586,134) children aged 6–17 (1385 with ASD, weighted N = 986,352). Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios, adjusting for demographics and possible secondary conditions. Results Having a diagnosis of ASD was associated with higher odds of obesity (OR 1.76, CI 1.27–2.43; p = <0.001). However, after additional adjustment for possible secondary conditions, ASD diagnosis was no longer associated with obesity. Those with moderate ASD (OR 0.58, CI 0.36–0.93; p = <0.05) reported lower odds of sedentary behavior, but this association failed to achieve significance after adjustment for secondary conditions and medication use. No significant associations between ASD and overweight or physical activity were found. Conclusions These findings suggest that ASD diagnosis is not significantly associated with obesity status after adjustment for possible secondary conditions and medication use. Decision makers, clinicians, and researchers developing interventions for children with ASDs should consider how secondary conditions may impact obesity and related activities.

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

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2001). American Academy of Pediatrics: Children, adolescents, and television. Pediatrics, 107(2), 423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bandini, L. G., Gleason, J., Curtin, C., Lividini, K., Anderson, S. E., Cermak, S. A., et al. (2013). Comparison of physical activity between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. Autism, 17(1), 44–54.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Barlow, S. E. (2007). Expert committee recommendations regarding the prevention, assessment, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: Summary report. Pediatrics, 120(Suppl 4), S164–S192.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Biddle, S. J., & Asare, M. (2011). Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: A review of reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45, 886–895.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). How much physical activity do children need? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/.

  6. 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 National Survey of Children’s Health. BMC Pediatrics, 10(1), 11.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Curtin, C., Jojic, M., & Bandini, L. G. (2014). Obesity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 22(2), 93–103.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Egan, A. M., Dreyer, M. L., Odar, C. C., Beckwith, M., & Garrison, C. B. (2013). Obesity in young children with autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence and associated factors. Childhood Obesity, 9(2), 125–131.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hallawell, B., Stephens, J., & Charnock, D. (2012). Physical activity and learning disability. British Journal of Nursing, 21(10), 609–612.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hinckson, E. A., Dickinson, A., Water, T., Sands, M., & Penman, L. (2013). Physical activity, dietary habits and overall health in overweight and obese children and youth with intellectual disability or autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(4), 1170–1178.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kane, J. (2008). Sedation as a side effect of the treatment of mental disorders. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 69(7), e20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Laurson, K. R., Lee, J. A., Gentile, D. A., Walsh, D. A., & Eisenmann, J. C. (2014). Concurrent associations between physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration with childhood obesity. International Scholarly Research Notices, 2014, 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  13. MacDonald, M., Esposito, P., & Ulrich, D. (2011). The physical activity patterns of children with autism. BMC Research Notes, 4(1), 422.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mazurek, M. O., Shattuck, P. T., Wagner, M., & Cooper, B. P. (2012). Prevalence and correlates of screen-based media use among youths with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(8), 1757–1767.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Mazurek, M. O., & Wenstrup, C. (2013). Television, video game and social media use among children with ASD and typically developing siblings. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(6), 1258–1271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Memari, A., Ghaheri, B., Ziaee, V., Kordi, R., Hafizi, S., & Moshayedi, P. (2013). Physical activity in children and adolescents with autism assessed by triaxial accelerometry. Pediatric Obesity, 8(2), 150–158.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Must, A., Phillips, S. M., Curtin, C., Anderson, S. E., Maslin, M., Lividini, K., & Bandini, L. G. (2014). Comparison of sedentary behaviors between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. Autism, 18(4), 376–384.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. National Survey of Children’s Health. (2011/2012). Child and adolescent health measurement initiative, data resource center on child and adolescent health website. Retrieved from http://childhealthdata.org/learn/NSCH.

  19. Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011–2012. Journal of the American Medical Association, 311(8), 806–814.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pan, C. Y., & Frey, G. C. (2006). Physical activity patterns in youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(5), 597–606.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Phillips, K. L., Schieve, L. A., Visser, S., Boulet, S., Sharma, A. J., Kogan, M. D., et al. (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.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Rauner, A., Mess, F., & Woll, A. (2013). The relationship between physical activity, physical fitness and overweight in adolescents: A systematic review of studies published in or after 2000. BMC Pediatrics, 13(1), 19.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Shane, H. C., & Albert, P. D. (2008). Electronic screen media for persons with autism spectrum disorders: Results of a survey. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(8), 1499–1508.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Sharma, J. R., Arieff, Z., Sagar, S., & Kaur, M. (2012). Autism and obesity: Prevalence, molecular basis and potential therapies. Autism Insights, 4, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Suarez, E. C., Schramm-Sapyta, N. L., Vann Hawkins, T., & Erkanli, A. (2013). Depression inhibits the anti-inflammatory effects of leisure time physical activity and light to moderate alcohol consumption. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 32, 144–152.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Tyler, K., MacDonald, M., & Menear, K. (2014). Physical activity and physical fitness of school-aged children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research and Treatment, 2014, 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Zuckerman, K. E., Hill, A. P., Guion, K., Voltolina, L., & Fombonne, E. (2014). Overweight and obesity: Prevalence and correlates in a large clinical sample of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders, 44(7), 1708–1719.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave S., RPHB 330N, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA

    Kathryn Corvey, Julie Preskitt, Samantha Goldfarb & Nir Menachemi

  2. School of Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Kristi S. Menear

Authors
  1. Kathryn Corvey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kristi S. Menear
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julie Preskitt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Samantha Goldfarb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nir Menachemi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathryn Corvey.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Corvey, K., Menear, K.S., Preskitt, J. et al. Obesity, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Matern Child Health J 20, 466–476 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1844-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1844-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation