The CoActis Santé association publishes, in partnership with the OVE Foundation, a new advice sheet intended for dietitians and more broadly for all health professionals on dietary management in the context of autism spectrum disorders.
The particularities of functioning of people with ASD can influence their eating behavior and meal times, this is the case for more than 80% of children with ASD (1). In these people, we find a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders, sleep disorders, ADHD, epilepsy, psychiatric comorbidities (2).
The nutritional and social consequences require multidisciplinary care, including dietetics, from an early age. The disorders can be aggravated by other associated motor problems.
This advice sheet provides the keys to understanding the influence that ASD can have on diet.
Beyond the observation and the points of vigilance, it offers possible levers of action for health professionals in order to promote access to health care for people with autism spectrum disorder: concrete advice is listed as well as useful downloadable tools as part of monitoring dietary behavior.
(1) FOOD & WELL-BEING guide / Autism, children who are well on their plate, ANNECLAUDE LUISIER, Apricil Group, Paul Bocuse Institute, Science and Innovation Research in collaboration with the Neurosciences Research Center of Lyon, the University of Friborg and Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, October 2020, consult
(2) Recommendations of the High Authority for Health (HAS), Autism Spectrum Disorder Warning sign, identification, diagnosis and evaluation in children and adolescents, Feb. 2018 consulter
