The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey: Comparisons with Obesity and Physical Activity in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Brian C Helsel, Rachel N S Foster, Joseph Sherman and 5 others
PMID 34982325WHAT IT FOUND
Teens with autism in high-risk home environments weighed 11.1 kg more than those in low-risk homes.
However, their measured physical activity levels were identical. This suggests the home environment score flags weight risk, not necessarily a lack of movement.
Key findings
01Adolescents with ASD in high obesogenic environments were significantly heavier and had higher BMI measures than those in low obesogenic environments.
02There were no significant differences in objectively measured physical activity (sedentary, light, or moderate-to-vigorous) between the high and low risk groups.
03Self-efficacy for physical activity was significantly higher in adolescents living in low obesogenic environments.
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 was very small (20 participants) and homogeneous, recruited from a specific geographic area for a yoga pilot study, which limits generalizability. ASD severity was not assessed, so it is unknown how the findings apply to individuals with more severe symptoms or different behavioral profiles. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if the FNPA score predicts future weight gain or if weight influences the home environment score. Accelerometer cut-points used were validated for typically developing children, not specifically for adolescents with ASD, which may affect the accuracy of activity measurements.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the higher weight in the high-risk group as evidence that these adolescents are less active. The study found no significant difference in measured physical activity levels between the high and low risk groups, so the weight difference likely stems from other factors such as diet or metabolism.