Student research
Behavioural factors that affect dietary choices
by
Elda Pinto
Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics), University of Wollongong
Supervisors: Velencia Soutter,
Anne Swain
November 2004
Full Text - PDF (193 KB)
Aim
To investigate dietary variety and preference of children
with autism, and to determine whether food fussiness and
dietary choices are behavioural factors of autism.
Introduction
There has been growing interest in the relationship between
autism and diet. Parents and even diagnostic sources have
assumed that feeding problems have been more severe for
children with autism than for those without autism, yet
minimal effort has been concentrated towards determining
if there is a relationship between autistic behaviours,
food fussiness and dietary choice.
Methods
Two groups were included: an autism group (n=73), and a
control group (n=40). Food fussiness was measured using
the Child Eating Behaviour and Appetite Scale (CEBAS) and
the Conners' Rating Scale. The CEBAS allowed for children's
favourite foods to be listed so that colour and texture
preferences could be counted using their frequency within
the list. The Food Frequency Questionnaire measured children's
food intake. The groups were compared using t-tests with
p <0.05 to indicate any difference between behavioural influences
on food intake and overall food intake.
Results
For each aspect of eating behaviour analysed through the
CEBAS and the Connors' Rating Scale, significant differences
were found. There were no significant differences between
the groups for each of the main food groups. Autistic children
often ate a lesser variety than the control group, and preferred
white coloured foods. In regards to texture, the autism
group preferred softer textures.
Discussion
Children with autism seemed to exhibit food fussiness more
than those without autism. The number of specific foods
eaten within each food group supported that children with
autism had less food variety in their diet, demonstrating
the repetitive tendencies and need for sameness commonly
reported in autistic children.