Dietary Patterns and Body Mass Index in Children with Autism and Typically Developing Children
Open accessAbstract
To determine whether dietary patterns (juice and sweetened non-dairy beverages, fruits, vegetables, fruits & vegetables, snack foods, and kid's meals) and associations between dietary patterns and body mass index (BMI) differed between 53 children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and 58 typically developing children, ages 3 to 11, multivariate regression models including interaction terms were used. Children with ASD were found to consume significantly more daily servings of sweetened beverages (2.6 versus 1.7, p=0.03) and snack foods (4.0 versus 3.0, p=0.01) and significantly fewer daily servings of fruits and vegetables (3.1 versus 4.4, p=0.006) than typically developing children. There was no evidence of statistical interaction between any of the dietary patterns and BMI z-score with autism status. Among all children, fruits and vegetables (p=0.004) and fruits alone (p=0.005) were positively associated with BMI z-score in our multivariate models. Children with ASD consume more energy-dense foods than typically developing children; however, in our sample, only fruits and vegetables were positively associated with BMI z-score.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
ASD children eat fewer vegetables and more energy-dense foods, so fiber intake is inadequate in a considerable number of children with ASD.
“Children with ASDs eat fewer vegetables and eat more energy-dense foods [76,78], so fiber intake was inadequate in a considerable number of children with ASDs [71,73,79,80].”
From Autism, Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Nutritional Interventions (2019) · cites this paper as [78]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
(1998) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e565682010-001 · Cited by 9,452 · see citing works
CDC GROWTH CHARTS FOR THE UNITED STATES: METHODS AND DEVELOPMENT 2000
Kuczmarski, R. J., Ogden, C. L., Guo, S. S., Strawn, L. G., Flegal, K. M., & Mei, Z. (2002) · Cited by 6,426 · see citing works
CDC growth charts: United States.
Kuczmarski, R. J., Ogden, C. L., Grummer‐Strawn, L. M., Flegal, K. M., Guo, S. S., Wei, R. X., Mei, Z., Curtin, L. R., Roche, A. F., & Johnson, C. L. (2000) · PubMed · Cited by 5,298 · see citing works
Barlow, S. E., & and the Expert Committee (2007) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2329c · Cited by 4,497 · see citing works
2000 CDC Growth Charts for the United States: methods and development.
Kuczmarski, R. J., Ogden, C. L., Guo, S. S., Grummer‐Strawn, L. M., Flegal, K. M., Mei, Z., Wei, R. X., Curtin, L. R., Roche, A. F., & Johnson, C. L. (2002) · PubMed · Cited by 3,716 · see citing works
Prevalence of High Body Mass Index in US Children and Adolescents, 2007-2008
Ogden, C. L. (2010) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2009.2012 · Cited by 3,200 · see citing works
(1998) · PubMed · Cited by 2,737 · see citing works
Ludwig, D. S., Peterson, K. E., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2001) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(00)04041-1 · Cited by 2,377 · see citing works
Effects of soft drink consumption on nutrition and health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Vartanian, L. R., Schwartz, M. B., & Brownell, K. D. (2007) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2005.083782 · Cited by 1,863 · see citing works
Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised
Rutter, M., LeCouteur, A., & Lord, C. (2016) · PsycTESTS Dataset · doi:10.1037/t18128-000 · Cited by 1,627 · see citing works
Food neophobia and ‘picky/fussy’ eating in children: A review
Dovey, T. M., Staples, P. A., Gibson, E. L., & Halford, J. C. G. (2007) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2007.09.009 · Cited by 1,235 · see citing works
Rice, C. E. (2009) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e562722010-001 · Cited by 760 · see citing works
Food selectivity and sensory sensitivity in children with autism spectrum disorders
Cermak, S. A., Curtin, C., & Bandini, L. G. (2010) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/j.jada.2009.10.032 · Cited by 750 · see citing works
Self-citationValidation of a Youth/Adolescent Food Frequency Questionnaire
Rockett, H. R. H., Breitenbach, M., Frazier, A. L., Witschi, J. C., Wolf, A., Field, A. E., & Colditz, G. A. (1997) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1006/pmed.1997.0200 · Cited by 692 · see citing works
Wang, Y. C., Bleich, S. N., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2008) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2834 · Cited by 686 · see citing works
Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Typically Developing Children
Bandini, L. G., Anderson, S. E., Curtin, C., Cermak, S., Evans, E. W., Scampini, R., Maslin, M., & Must, A. (2010) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.02.013 · Cited by 664 · see citing works
Self-citationReedy, J., & Krebs‐Smith, S. M. (2010) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/j.jada.2010.07.010 · Cited by 638 · see citing works
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Nutritional Knowledge and Beliefs in Mothers and Children
Gibson, E. L., Wardle, J., & WATTS, C. J. (1998) · Appetite · doi:10.1006/appe.1998.0180 · Cited by 622 · see citing works
Coman, D. C. (2018) · The SAGE Encyclopedia of Intellectual and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.4135/9781483392271.n132 · Cited by 607 · see citing works
Demographic, familial and trait predictors of fruit and vegetable consumption by pre-school children
Cooke, L. J., Wardle, J., Gibson, E. L., Sapochnik, M., Sheiham, A., & Lawson, M. S. (2004) · Public Health Nutrition · doi:10.1079/phn2003527 · Cited by 572 · see citing works
Ebbeling, C. B., Feldman, H. A., Osganian, S. K., Chomitz, V. R., Ellenbogen, S. J., & Ludwig, D. S. (2006) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2005-0983 · Cited by 561 · see citing works
A comparison of eating behaviors between children with and without autism
Schreck, K. A., Williams, K., & Smith, A. F. (2004) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/b:jadd.0000037419.78531.86 · Cited by 536 · see citing works
Mack, A. H. (2011) · Yearbook of Psychiatry and Applied Mental Health · doi:10.1016/j.ypsy.2010.11.009 · Cited by 500 · see citing works
Atypical behaviors in children with autism and children with a history of language impairment
Dominick, K. C., Davis, N. O., Lainhart, J. E., Tager-Flusberg, H. B., & Folstein, S. E. (2006) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2006.02.003 · Cited by 496 · see citing works
Changes in terminology for childhood overweight and obesity.
Ogden, C. L., & Flegal, K. M. (2010) · PubMed · Cited by 485 · see citing works
Serving Portion Size Influences 5-Year-Old but Not 3-Year-Old Children's Food Intakes
Rolls, B. J., Engell, D. B., & Birch, L. L. (2000) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/s0002-8223(00)00070-5 · Cited by 455 · see citing works
Trends In Snacking Among U.S. Children
Piernas, C., & Popkin, B. M. (2010) · Health Affairs · doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0666 · Cited by 402 · see citing works
Curtin, C., Anderson, S. E., Must, A., & Bandini, L. (2010) · BMC Pediatrics · doi:10.1186/1471-2431-10-11 · Cited by 376 · see citing works
Self-citationChanging the Energy Density of the Diet as a Strategy for Weight Management
Rolls, B. J., Drewnowski, A., & Ledikwe, J. H. (2005) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/j.jada.2005.02.033 · Cited by 360 · see citing works
SCHRECK, K., & WILLIAMS, K. (2006) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2005.03.005 · Cited by 355 · see citing works
Ahearn, W. H., Castine, T., Nault, K., & Green, G. (2001) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1012221026124 · Cited by 354 · see citing works
Rimmer, J. H., Yamaki, K., Lowry, B. M. D., Wang, E., & Vogel, L. C. (2010) · Journal of Intellectual Disability Research · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01305.x · Cited by 354 · see citing works
Feeding Symptoms, Dietary Patterns, and Growth in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Emond, A., Emmett, P., Steer, C., & Golding, J. (2010) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2009-2391 · Cited by 338 · see citing works
Overweight, Weight Concerns, and Bulimic Behaviors Among Girls and Boys
Field, A. E., Camargo, C. A., Taylor, C. B., Berkey, C. S., Frazier, A. L., Gillman, M. W., & Colditz, G. A. (1999) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-199906000-00024 · Cited by 323 · see citing works
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
Braaten, E. (2018) · The SAGE Encyclopedia of Intellectual and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.4135/9781483392271.n529 · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Willett, W. C. (2012) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199754038.003.0005 · Cited by 282 · see citing works
Taveras, E. M., Berkey, C. S., Rifas‐Shiman, S. L., Ludwig, D. S., Rockett, H. R. H., Field, A. E., Colditz, G. A., & Gillman, M. W. (2005) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2732 · Cited by 278 · see citing works
Dubois, L., Farmer, A. P., Girard, M., & Peterson, K. (2007) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/j.jada.2007.03.004 · Cited by 265 · see citing works
Food purchased away from home as a predictor of change in BMI z-score among girls
Thompson, O. M., Ballew, C., Resnicow, K., Must, A., Bandini, L. G., Cyr, H., & Dietz, W. H. (2003) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802538 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Self-citationCurtin, C., Bandini, L. G., Perrin, E. C., Tybor, D. J., & Must, A. (2005) · BMC Pediatrics · doi:10.1186/1471-2431-5-48 · Cited by 241 · see citing works
Self-citationPrevalence of Obesity Among Children With Chronic Conditions
Chen, A. Y., Kim, S. E., Houtrow, A. J., & Newacheck, P. W. (2009) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2009.185 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Higher Fruit Consumption Linked With Lower Body Mass Index
Lin, B., & Morrison, R. M. (2002) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · doi:10.22004/ag.econ.234628 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Preschool children's eating behaviours are related to dietary adequacy and body weight
Dubois, L., Farmer, A. P., Girard, M., & Peterson, K. E. (2006) · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602586 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
A balanced approach towards healthy eating in autism
Cornish, E. (1998) · Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics · doi:10.1046/j.1365-277x.1998.00132.x · Cited by 153 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Children with ASD who exhibit food selectivity have been found to have sensory sensitivity with concomitant aversions to specific colors, smells, temperatures, and textures, and preferences for energy-dense foods (Ahearn, Castine, Nault, & Green, 2001; Cornish, 1998; Dominick, Davis, Lainhart, TagerFlusberg, & Folstei…”
BackgroundBandini, L. G., Curtin, C., Hamad, C. D., Tybor, D. J., & Must, A. (2005) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2005.01.049 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Self-citationWillett, W. C. (1998) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195122978.003.05 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Effects of obesity on morbidity in children and adolescents.
Must, A., & Anderson, S. E. (2003) · PubMed · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Self-citationMust, A., Barish, E. E., & Bandini, L. G. (2009) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2009.60 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Self-citationThe physical status of children with autism in China
XIONG, N., JI, C., Li, Y., He, Z., BO, H., & ZHAO, Y. (2008) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2007.11.001 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Whiteley, P., Rodgers, J., & Shattock, P. (2000) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361300004002008 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Food behaviors and other strategies to prevent and treat pediatric overweight
Sherry, B. (2005) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803078 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Rothman K Greenland S Lash T Modern Epidemiology 2008 (Third ed.) Philadelphia Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Stress and Parents of Children with Autism: A Review of Literature
Bonis, S. (2016) · Issues in Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.3109/01612840.2015.1116030 · Cited by 404 · see citing works
Autism, Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Nutritional Interventions
Ristori, M. V., Quagliariello, A., Reddel, S., Ianiro, G., Vicari, S., Gasbarrini, A., & Putignani, L. (2019) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu11112812 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Hubbard, K. L., Anderson, S. E., Curtin, C., Must, A., & Bandini, L. G. (2014) · Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics · doi:10.1016/j.jand.2014.04.017 · Cited by 201 · see citing works
Self-citationEsteban-Figuerola, P., Canals, J., Fernández-Cao, J. C., & Arija Val, V. (2019) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361318794179 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Nutritional Status of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Do We Know Enough?
Ranjan, S., & Nasser, J. A. (2015) · Advances in Nutrition · doi:10.3945/an.114.007914 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
Microbiome and nutrition in autism spectrum disorder: Current knowledge and research needs
Berding, K., & Donovan, S. M. (2016) · Nutrition Reviews · doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuw048 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Correlates of Feeding Difficulties Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
Page, S. D., Souders, M. C., Kral, T. V. E., Chao, A. M., & Pinto-Martin, J. (2022) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04947-4 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Bicer, A. H., & Alsaffar, A. A. (2013) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2013.08.024 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Nutritional status of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs): A case—Control study
Marí-Bauset, S., Llopis-González, A., Zazpe-García, I., Marí-Sanchis, A., & Morales-Suárez-Varela, M. (2015) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2205-8 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Dietary adequacy of children with autism compared with controls and the impact of restricted diet
Graf-Myles, J., Farmer, C., Thurm, A., Royster, C., Kahn, P., Soskey, L., Rothschild, L., & Swedo, S. (2013) · Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics · doi:10.1097/dbp.0b013e3182a00d17 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Matheson, B. E., & Douglas, J. M. (2017) · Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s40489-017-0103-7 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Berding, K., Holscher, H. D., Arthur, A. E., & Donovan, S. M. (2018) · The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.01.002 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Raspini, B., Prosperi, M., Guiducci, L., Santocchi, E., Tancredi, R., Calderoni, S., Morales, M. A., Morelli, M., Simione, M., Fiechtner, L., et al. (2021) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu13114039 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Nutritional Risks of ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorders) and Related Behavior
Feillet, F., Bocquet, A., Briend, A., Chouraqui, J.-P., Darmaun, D., Frelut, M.-L., Girardet, J.-P., Guimber, D., Hankard, R., Lapillonne, A., et al. (2019) · Archives de Pédiatrie · doi:10.1016/j.arcped.2019.08.005 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Zulkifli, M. N., Kadar, M., Fenech, M., & Hamzaid, N. H. (2022) · Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2022.101928 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Wallace, G. L., Richard, E., Wolff, A., Nadeau, M., & Zucker, N. (2021) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361320942087 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Canals-Sans, J., Esteban-Figuerola, P., Morales-Hidalgo, P., & Arija, V. (2022) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04928-7 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Tomaszek, N., Urbaniak, A. D., Bałdyga, D., Chwesiuk, K., Modzelewski, S., & Waszkiewicz, N. (2025) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu17030486 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Smith, B., Rogers, S. L., Blissett, J., & Ludlow, A. K. (2019) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2019.01.003 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI): Italian Translation and Validation
Lamboglia, A., Romano, R., Valente, D., Berardi, A., Cavalli, G., Giovannone, F., Sogos, C., Tofani, M., & Galeoto, G. (2023) · Children · doi:10.3390/children10071201 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
- Authors
- Evans, E. W., Must, A., Anderson, S. E., Curtin, C., Scampini, R., Maslin, M., & Bandini, L.
- Affiliations
- Tufts University (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
- Boston University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Evans, E. Whitney
- Venue
- Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-01
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 399-405
- ISSN
- 1878-0237 (ISSN-L)
- 1750-9467
- PMC
- PMC3427936
- OpenAlex
- W2077095925
- Cited by
- 201
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 4.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Research in Autism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network (American Medical Association) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (T32DK062032, P30DK046200)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P30HD004147, R21HD048989)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, dietary habits, body mass index, childhood obesity, sweetened beverages, snacks, fruits and vegetables, energy-dense foods, typically developing children, BMI z-score
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
