Movement Behaviors in Youth on the Autism Spectrum: The HUNT Study, Norway.
Ingrid Okkenhaug, Terese Wilhelmsen, Paul Jarle Mork and 1 others
PMID 40257659WHAT IT FOUND
No autistic youth in this study achieved the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, compared to about one in five peers.
They also sat significantly more. Outdoor activities were the only arena where their participation matched the general population.
Key findings
01Zero percent of the autistic youth achieved the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day, whereas 21.8% of the general population and 23.4% of youth with ADHD did.
02Autistic youth spent more time sitting than both the general population and youth with ADHD.
03Outdoor physical activity was the only arena where autistic youth were equally active as the comparison groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample of autistic youth was small (N=71), which limits the precision of estimates for this group. Self-selection bias is present, particularly in the autistic and ADHD groups, as not all invited participants wore the accelerometers. Accelerometer data cannot distinguish between school hours and leisure time, so context for activity levels is missing. Self-reported physical activity and screen time are subject to information bias. The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine whether autism traits cause lower activity or if other factors are involved.
Declared interests
The study was funded by NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology and St. Olavs Hospital - Trondheim University Hospital. No specific conflicts of interest were declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that autistic youth are incapable of meeting physical activity guidelines. The study shows they are not currently meeting them, but it does not test interventions. The finding that outdoor activity participation matched peers suggests the barrier may be the type of activity environment rather than the capacity for movement.