Child Eating Behaviors and Caregiver Feeding Practices in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Objective This pilot study compared children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and typically developing children (TDC) on weight-related outcomes and caregiver-reported child eating behaviors and feeding practices. Design and Sample Cross-sectional study. Caregivers of 25 children with ASD and 30 TDC, ages 4–6. Methods Caregivers completed validated questionnaires that assessed child eating behaviors and feeding practices. Children's height, weight, and waist circumference were measured. Results Children with ASD, when compared to TDC, showed significantly greater abdominal waist circumferences (p = .01) and waist-to-height ratios (p