自閉症孩童過重與肥胖

Overweight and Obesity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

自閉症孩童有罹患過重與肥胖的風險，然而過去相關文獻顯示較缺乏這方面相關研究。本論文主要目的運用文獻回顧方法，來界定自閉症孩童的過重與肥胖盛行率與相關因素分析。結果顯示自閉症孩童的肥胖盛行率高於一般孩童，但過重的盛行率較為不一致。自閉症孩童主要肥胖的危險因子包括疾病問題、身體活動、家庭因素與對食物的敏感性等。本文建議未來的公共衛生政策，應以整合性與自閉症者為中心的過重與肥胖的防治策略為重點，以維護其健康與提升生活品質。

Childhood obesity has been associated with adverse health outcomes, and children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are also at risk for developing overweight and obesity in the society. However limited research is available on the occurrence and prevention of overweight and obesity in children with ASD. The purpose of this paper was to review the current literatures to determine the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among individuals with ASD. Results revealed that the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in children with ASD than without, and the prevalence of overweight was varied in the previous literatures. Many medical conditions, physical activities, family factors and food selectivity may be at increased risk of obesity in children with ASD. This review highlights that integrative and clientfocused overweight and obesity prevention and treatment interventions for this vulnerable population are needed in the future health policy formulation, to maintain their healthy livings and improve quality of life.