The Relationship between Sensory Integration Challenges and the Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mumbai, India

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the dietary intake, food refusal, and nutritional status of younger and older children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Mumbai, India, and to understand the relationships between these variables and mealtime behaviors and sensory integration. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study. Convenience and snowball sampling was used. Data were collected from 146 mother-children pairs, where children belonged to two age groups (3-6 years and 7-11 years). Caregivers completed scales on mealtime behaviors, sensory integration, and the dietary intake of their children. Nutritional status of the children was assessed by measuring their height and weight. Based on BMI 'z' scores, children were classified as 'Underweight', 'Mild Underweight', 'Normal BMI', 'Overweight', or 'Obese'. Results: There was no significant difference in mealtime behavior and sensory integration scores between the two age groups. There was a significant inverse relationship between the mealtime behavior and sensory integration scores. There was no relationship between these two variables and the dietary intake of children. However, there was a significant relationship between these two variables and the number of food groups refused by children with ASD. Only 39.7% children had a normal BMI. There was a significant positive relationship between dietary intake and nutritional status of children. Conclusion: Difficulties in sensory integration may contribute to mealtime behavioral problems and inadequate dietary intake in these children. At the same time, higher dietary intake (which may be poor in diversity) may be related with a higher likelihood of being overweight.