Body composition of patients with autism spectrum disorder through bioelectrical impedance.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in sociability, communication, and limited repertoire of interests and behaviors.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the nutritional status through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and antrophometrics variables in 63 ASD children and adolescents (10.5 ± 4.1 years; 81% male).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anthropometric variables were weight, height, and waist circumference (WC); body composition (fat mass, fat free mass) and phase angle (PA) were obtained through BIA.

RESULTS: The body mass index showed a prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight of 38.9, 36.5 and 15.8%, respectively. According to the body fat percentual, obesity prevalence was 49.2%, and 49.2% showed WC > 80th percentile for age. Eleven patients presented lower PA values than references.

CONCLUSION: According to the these parameters, a large percentual of ASD children and adolescents in this sample had total overweight and obesity and truncal adiposity, which causes concern, as well as the percentage of underweight participants.