Paediatria Croatica, Vol. 59 No. 3, 2015.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.13112/PC.2015.24
Body composition in Iranian boys with autism spectrum disorders
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess body composition of boys with autism and also to investigate the association of demographic
factors, autism severity and drug therapy with their body composition. We recruited 85 boys aged 7-14 years by stratifi ed random
sampling in autism-specifi c schools in Tehran. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. The study
revealed that 9.4% of participants were underweight and 47.3% were suff ering from overweight and obesity. The mean total body
fat percentage and fat mass index were 23.46% and 4.8, respectively. A high rate of obesity was found in Iranian children and adolescents
with autism. Furthermore, boys whose mothers had higher educational levels may have less chance of being within the
normal weight ranges in comparison with sons of lower-educated mothers (p=0.002), while father’s educational level had no eff ect
on the child’s body mass index. In conclusion, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed in Iranian male children
and adolescents suff ering from autism according to their body mass index and body fat percentage.
Keywords
autistic disorder; body composition; demography; body mass index
Hrčak ID:
153104
URI
Publication date:
25.9.2015.
Visits: 1.490 *