We conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the quality of the dietary data and the methods used to obtain them in studies with children and adolescents with ASD. The search of PsycINFO, PubMed, SciELO, and Web of Science using SPIDER strategy retrieved 1975 studies. Data on dietary intake assessment methodologies were…

This study aimed to examine dietary nutrient intake and parental perspectives on nutrition in a diverse sample (e.g., age, ethnicity) of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the U.S. state of Florida. Forty-one parents of children with ASD (ages 2-17 years) completed a food record, and 25 of these parents participated in semi-structured…

This paper presents a theoretically influenced discussion of methodological issues in carrying out ethnographic work at "Peartree Academy." Food is central to our sense of identity. It draws on notions of the school "restaurant" and presents an account of the complexities surrounding the disorderliness of fieldwork in…

Objective: To examine the association between childhood ADHD and lifestyle risk factors (physical inactivity and high fast-food consumption) from adolescence to early adulthood. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used secondary data from Wave I to III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) in a national…

In many nations today, the quality of children's diets is low, with numerous children rejecting healthy foods. Fortunately, young children can learn to like and consume new and previously rejected foods with experience, as evidenced by extensive experimental research. In this article, we propose integrating research on children's food preference…

Background: The Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PEDI-EAT-10) is a reliable and valid tool for rapid identification of dysphagia in patients aged 18 months to 18 years. Aims: To translate and adapt the PEDI-EAT-10 into the Italian language and evaluate its validity and reliability. Methods & Procedures: The translation and cross-cultural…

The human gastrointestinal tract is host to a complex community of microorganisms called gut microbiota that is crucial for maintaining health through various metabolic, immunological and protective functions. Despite their significance, public awareness of gut microbiota remains limited among children and adults. This study aimed to assess and…

Increased food selectivity among children with autism spectrum disorder may lead to nutritional inadequacy. We designed this study to examine the prospective relationship between autistic traits in children and subsequent nutrient intake in later childhood and whether this relationship changes over time. We utilized longitudinal data obtained at…

The interrelated nature of mental health and indicators of school success in children and adolescents has been under-investigated from a person-centered perspective. In this exploratory study, we examined patterns of health behavior in relation to mental health and school satisfaction. A convenience sample of 315 students (M[subscript age] =…

Purpose: Since youngsters are being extensively engaged with digital devices these days, integrating digital technologies into food and nutrition education programs, stands out as a viable method. The current systematic review aimed to assess the available literature on the effectiveness of digital edutainment games on nutrition behavior of…

This case-control study compared dietary sugar exposure and oral health status between children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), aged 5-12 years (n = 136, each). Data regarding socio-demographics, child's oral hygiene practices and behavior, diet-related behavior, oral habits and dental trauma were obtained. Child's diet on the…

The Aut-Eat Questionnaire (AEQ) provides a novel and comprehensive assessment of eating problems and patterns in children with ASD. To establish the internal consistency and discriminant validity of the AEQ, parents of children with ASD (n = 105, M[subscript age] = 40.85, SD = 15.67 months) or typical development (TD; n = 98, M[subscript age] =…

Although food selectivity and so-called "picky" eating are well documented in autism spectrum disorder, emotion-linked eating has rarely been investigated. This study examined emotion-linked over- and under-eating based on parent ratings of these behaviors in 4- to 17-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 190) as compared…

Managing Eating Aversions and Limited Variety (MEAL) Plan is a structured parent-mediated intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder and moderate food selectivity. Our previously reported group-based clinical trial revealed a positive treatment response rate of 47.3%. Although encouraging, this response rate raises questions about…

Children with developmental disabilities (DD) exhibit feeding and swallowing difficulties, which can have an impact on nutritional, developmental, and psychological aspects. The existing tools assess the nature of feeding problems and behaviors only. The present study aimed to assess the physical, functional, and emotional domains in children with…