Title : Dietary patterns, physical activity, and health challenges among autistic children aged 3–17 years in the United Arab Emirates
Abstract:
Background:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects a significant number of children worldwide. However, its prevalence and impact remain underexplored in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Objective:
This study aims to investigate the eating habits, physical activity levels, and health challenges of autistic children in the UAE.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study used a structured questionnaire to collect data from private autism and special needs centers.
Results:
Commonalities between the participants included having mild autism (46.7%), the onset of symptoms around the age of three (41.7%), and attending an autism center (82.3%). The majority had a normal BMI (44.7%), although a significant proportion (80%) were selective eaters, with 22% not consuming any vegetables. A factor significantly correlated with BMI was the effect of feeling upset on eating habits (p=0.019), with 28.3% of participants over-eating and 48.3% under-eating when feeling upset. Gastrointestinal issues (24.3%) and sleep disturbances (45.9%) were also reported, though these did not significantly affect BMI, but they still present other health concerns. Regarding nutritional deficiencies, 40% of participants were reported to have no deficiencies. In comparison, 31.7% reported that they did not know whether their child had deficiencies or not, and 28.3% indicated that their child did have weaknesses. Additionally, only 40% of the children were reported to be receiving vitamin and mineral supplements. Additionally, we found that the majority of participants engaged in physical activity chose swimming (37%).
Conclusions:
Nutritional deficiencies are prevalent among autistic children, highlighting the need for further research in this area. Key topics for future investigation include food selectivity, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal issues, emotional eating, and nutrient deficiencies. Since swimming is known to benefit motor skills and emotional regulation, we recommend continued encouragement of swimming as an effective activity for autistic children.
