Differences in Body Mass Index (BMI) in Early Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder Compared to Youth with Typical Development.
Blythe A Corbett, Rachael A Muscatello, Briana K Horrocks and 2 others
PMID 33051783WHAT IT FOUND
Early adolescents with autism had higher body mass index percentiles than typically developing peers, driven mainly by males.
This difference persisted after excluding participants on weight-gain medications, suggesting autism itself, rather than medication side effects, is associated with increased weight in this age group.
Key findings
01Participants with ASD showed significantly higher BMI percentiles than those with typical development.
02The BMI difference was significant for males but not for females.
03Excluding participants taking medications known to cause weight gain did not eliminate the significant difference in BMI percentiles between the groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study did not collect data on physical activity levels or nutritional intake, which are key factors influencing BMI. The sample was restricted to children with an IQ of 70 or higher, so findings may not apply to those with intellectual disability. The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine causality or track changes over time. The sample was predominantly Caucasian, which may limit generalizability to other racial and ethnic groups.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the higher BMI in the ASD group is caused by antipsychotic medication. The study found that excluding the 10 participants taking weight-gain medications did not remove the significant difference in BMI percentiles between the groups.