Weight status of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A cross‐sectional analysis of primary care electronic medical records and linked health administrative datasets in Ontario, Canada
Authors' conclusion
Children and adolescents with ASD are at increased risk of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity, independent of sociodemographic characteristics. Strategies addressing growth and weight status are warranted in this population.
Study context
- Population
- Children and adolescents ≥2 and ≤18 years old, Ontario, Canada; growth measurements from a large primary care database 2011–2016; weight status by WHO definitions
- Participants
- 568 vs 32,967
- Exposure
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) vs no ASD
- ASDn = 568
- Without ASDn = 32,967reference
- Outcome
- Weight status (underweight, overweight, obesity, severe obesity), adjusted for individual- and neighbourhood-level sociodemographic factors
Methodological detailspopulation-based, primary care electronic medical records linked to health administrative data
- Population-based
- Primary care electronic medical records linked to health administrative data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs without ASDEstimate (95% CI)
ASD
aOR (underweight) 2.02(1.27–3.20)
ASD
aOR (obesity) 1.87(1.44–2.43)
ASD
aOR (severe obesity) 2.62(1.81–3.80)
- Prevalence of underweight, ASD vs without ASD
- 3.5% vs 1.9%
- Prevalence of overweight, ASD vs without ASD
- 19.0% vs 18.2%
- Prevalence of obesity, ASD vs without ASD
- 12.9% vs 7.3%
- Prevalence of severe obesity, ASD vs without ASD
- 5.8% vs 2.2%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Weight status of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A cross‐sectional analysis of primary care electronic medical records and linked health administrative datasets in Ontario, Canada. Pediatr Obes. Published 18 March 2025. doi:10.
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