Feeding Behavior and Nutritional Intake in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Summary
Feeding behaviour in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is marked by a high prevalence of selective eating, sensory sensitivities and mealtime routines that diverge from typical developmental patterns. These characteristics can lead to nutritional imbalances, ranging from micronutrient deficiencies to risks of both underweight and obesity. Sensory processing differences—such as oral hypersensitivity to texture, taste or temperature—often drive restricted food repertoires and exacerbate parental stress around feeding. At the same time, repetitive preferences for high-energy-density foods or a narrow variety of items can contribute to metabolic concerns, including altered body composition and elevated cardiometabolic risk. Recent work has sought to disentangle the interplay of sensory, behavioural and biological factors that influence dietary diversity and nutrient intake in ASD, with particular emphasis on personalised assessment and intervention strategies. Globally, these insights have informed the development of tailored meal plans, caregiver-supported behavioural therapies and guidelines for monitoring growth trajectories. Awareness of the bidirectional relationship between feeding challenges and gastrointestinal health is also expanding, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary approaches that integrate dietary, sensory and medical perspectives.
Research from Nature Portfolio
A comprehensive meta-analysis pooling data from nearly one million individuals compared rates of obesity and overweight in ASD versus neurotypical populations. The analysis revealed that people with ASD are significantly more likely to be obese, whereas rates of overweight alone did not differ markedly. Robust sensitivity testing and random-effects modelling underscored the consistency of the obesity association across diverse study designs. These findings underline the importance of routine weight monitoring and early nutritional intervention to mitigate long-term health risks in ASD.
Feeding Behavior and Nutritional Intake in Autism Spectrum Disorders publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in feeding behavior and nutritional intake in autism spectrum disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Food selectivity: A tendency to consume a limited variety of foods, often driven by sensory characteristics such as taste, texture or appearance.
Oral hypersensitivity: An exaggerated sensory response to stimuli in the mouth, leading to aversion or refusal of certain food textures or temperatures.
Sensory processing: The neurological mechanism by which the brain receives, organises and interprets sensory input from the environment.
Dietary diversity: The number of different foods or food groups consumed over a reference period, reflecting nutritional adequacy.
Meta-analysis: A statistical method that synthesises results from multiple studies to derive an overall estimate of effect size or association.
References
- Short report: The role of oral hypersensitivity in feeding behaviors of young autistic children. Autism (2023).
- Autism Spectrum Disorder and collective catering service: results of the pilot study FOOD-AUT. Frontiers in Nutrition (2024).
- Nutritional Status and Feeding Behavior of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Review. Nutrients (2023).
- Association among obesity, overweight and autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports (2017).
- Association of Sensory Processing and Eating Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism Research and Treatment (2011).
- Food selectivity, nutritional inadequacies, and mealtime behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder compared to neurotypical children. International Journal of Eating Disorders (2021).
- Food Selectivity in Children with Autism: Guidelines for Assessment and Clinical Interventions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).
- Food Selectivity and Its Implications Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Nutrients (2022).
About these summaries
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