iBet uBet web content aggregator. Adding the entire web to your favor.
iBet uBet web content aggregator. Adding the entire web to your favor.



Link to original content: https://link.springer.com/doi/10.1007/s10803-008-0648-5
Comparison of Eating Attitudes between Adolescent Girls with and without Asperger Syndrome: Daughters’ and Mothers’ Reports | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Comparison of Eating Attitudes between Adolescent Girls with and without Asperger Syndrome: Daughters’ and Mothers’ Reports

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the evidence that individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) have a propensity for being underweight or having comorbid eating disorders, no previous research has compared the eating attitudes of adolescent girls with AS to typically developing peers. This study compared reports of eating problems provided by the adolescent girls themselves (56 with and 56 without AS) and their mothers on the EAT-26. Results indicated that adolescent girls with AS are at a higher risk for eating problems than their typically developing peers according to their reports and the reports of their mothers. Moreover, it was found that although the agreement between mothers’ and daughter’s reports is very satisfactory, mothers of girls with AS report statistically less eating-disordered behaviors than their daughters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahearn, W. H., Castine, T., Nault, K., & Green, G. (2001). An assessment of food acceptance or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 505–511. doi:10.1023/A:1012221026124.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed. rev). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asperger, H. (1944). Die “Autistichen Psychopathen” in Kindersalter. Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten, 117, 76–136. doi:10.1007/BF01837709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolte, S., Ozkara, N., & Poustka, F. (2000). Autism spectrum disorders and low body weight: Is there really a systematic association? The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 31, 349–351. doi:10.1002/eat.10015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, J. H., Rhoden, D. K., & Turner, D. (1993). Symptomatic vitamin A and D deficiencies in an eight-year-old with autism. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 17, 284–286. doi:10.1177/0148607193017003284.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erdfelder, E., Faul, F., & Buchner, A. (2005). Power analysis for categorical methods. In B. S. Everitt & D. C. Howell (Eds.), Encyclopedia of statistics in behavioral science (pp. 1565–1570). Chichester, GB: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisman, S., Steele, M., Short, J., Byrne, T., & Lavalee, C. (1996). Case study: Anorexia nervosa and autistic disorder in an adolescent girl. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 937–940.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garner, D. M., Olmsted, M. P., Bohr, Y., & Garfinkel, P. E. (1982). The eating attitudes test: Psychometric features and clinical correlates. Psychological Medicine, 12, 871–878.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Georgas, D. D., Paraskevopoulos, I. N., Bezevegis, I. G., & Giannitsas, N. D. (1997). Greek WISC-III: Wechsler intelligence scales for children. Athens: Ellinika Grammata.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, I. C., Gillberg, C., Rastam, M., & Johnasson, M. (1996). The cognitive profile of anorexia nervosa: A comparative study including a community-based sample. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 37, 23–30. doi:10.1016/S0010-440X(96)90046-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, I. C., Rastam, M., & Gillberg, C. (1995). Anorexia nervosa 6 years after onset: Part I personality disorders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 36, 61–69. doi:10.1016/0010-440X(95)90100-A.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Happé, F. G. E. (1994). Annotation: Current psychological theories of autism: The ‘theory of mind’ account and rival theories. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 35, 215–229. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1994.tb01159.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hebebrand, J., Henninghausen, K., Nau, S., Himmelmann, G. W., Schulz, E., Schafer, H., et al. (1997). Low body weight in male children and adolescents with schizoid personality disorder or Asperger’s disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 96, 64–67. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1997.tb09906.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, H. H., Eaves, L. C., & Peabody, D. (1997). Nutrient intake and obesity in children with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 12, 187–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobi, C., Agras, W. S., Bryson, S., & Hamer, L. D. (2003). Behavioural validation, precursors and concomitants of picky eating in childhood. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42, 76–84. doi:10.1097/00004583-200301000-00013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, W. G., Grieve, F. G., Adams, C. D., & Sandy, J. (1999). Measuring binge eating in adolescents: Adolescent and parent versions of the questionnaire of eating and weight patterns. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 26, 301–314. doi :10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199911)26:3<301::AID-EAT8>3.0.CO;2-M.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kedeshy, J. H., & Budd, K. S. (1998). Childhood eating disorders: Biobehavioral assessment and intervention. Baltimore, MD: Paul Brookes Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keen, D. (2007). Childhood autism, feeding problems and failure to thrive in early infancy: Seven case studies. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. doi:10.1007/s00787-007-0655-7.

  • Kerwin, M. L. (1999). Empirically validated treatments for feeding problems and failure to thrive. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 24, 193–214. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/24.3.193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kerwin, M. L., Eicher, P. S., & Gelsinger, J. (2005). Parental report of eating problems and gastrointestinal symptoms in children with pervasive developmental disorders. Children’s Health Care, 34, 221–234. doi:10.1207/s15326888chc3403_4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohn, M. T., & Golden, N. H. (2001). Eating disorders in children and adolescent: Epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. Paediatric Drugs, 3, 91–99. doi:10.2165/00128072-200103020-00002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., Goode, S., Heemsbergen, J., Jordan, H., Mawhood, L., et al. (1989). Autism diagnostic observation schedule: A standardized observation of communicative and social behavior. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19, 185–212. doi:10.1007/BF02211841.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview-revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 659–685. doi:10.1007/BF02172145.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lukens, C. T., & Linscheid, T. R. (2008). Development and validation of an inventory to assess mealtime behavior problems in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 342–352. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0401-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, W. C., Eppers, K. D., & Sherrodd, J. R. (2004). Eating attitudes of native American and white female adolescents: A comparison of BMI- and age-matched groups. Ethnicity & Health, 9, 253–266. doi:10.1080/1355785042000250094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, W. C., Heil, D. P., Wagner, E., & Havens, M. D. (2007). Ethnic differences in BMI, weight concerns, and eating behaviors: Comparison of Native American, White, and Hispanic adolescents. Body Image, 4, 179–190. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.01.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macht, J. (1990). Poor eaters: Helping children who refuse to eat. New York, NY: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mei, Z., Grummer-Strawn, L. M., Pietrobelli, A., Goulding, A., Goran, M. I., & Dietz, W. H. (2002). Validity of body mass index compared with other body-composition screening indexes for the assessment of body fatness in children and adolescents. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 7, 585–597.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, J. E., Cook-Myers, T., & Wonderlich, S. A. (2005). Diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa: Looking ahead to DSM-V. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 37, 95–97. doi:10.1002/eat.20125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson, E. W., Gillberg, C., Gillberg, I. C., & Rastam, M. (1999). Ten year follow-up of adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa: Personality disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 1389–1395. doi:10.1097/00004583-199911000-00013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rastam, M. (1992). Anorexia nervosa in 51 Swedish adolescents: Premorbid problems and comorbidity. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 819–829.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ritvo, E. M., & Freeman, B. J. (1978). National society for autistic children definition of the syndrome of autism. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 8, 162–170. doi:10.1007/BF01537864.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sancho, C., Arija, M. V., Asorey, O., & Canals, J. (2007). Epidemiology of eating disorders. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 16, 495–504. doi:10.1007/s00787-007-0625-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schreck, K. A., & Williams, K. (2006). Food preferences and factors influencing food selectivity for children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 119, 783–790.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreck, K. A., Williams, K., & Smith, A. F. (2004). A comparison of eating behaviors between children with and without autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34, 433–438. doi:10.1023/B:JADD.0000037419.78531.86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sobanski, E., Marcus, A., Henninghausen, K., Hebebrand, J., & Schmidt, M. H. (1999). Further evidence for a low body weight in male children and adolescents with Asperger’s disorder. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 8, 312–314. doi:10.1007/s007870050106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, E., Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Cohen, M. L., Elberg, J., Freedman, R. J., Semega-Janneh, M., et al. (2004). Comparison of the child and parent forms of the questionnaire on eating and weight patterns in the assessment of children’s eating-disordered behaviors. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36, 183–194. doi:10.1002/eat.20022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tchanturia, K., Happé, F., Godley, J., Treasure, J., Bara-Carril, N., & Schmidt, U. (2004). ‘Theory of mind’ in anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 12, 361–366. doi:10.1002/erv.608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Treasure, J. (2007). Is anorexia the female Asperger’s? Times (London, England), 18.

  • Vamvoukas, M. (1994). Aksiologisi anagnostikon ikanotiton [assessment of reading skills]. Athens: Grigoris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wakeling, A. (1996). Epidemiology of anorexia nervosa. Psychiatry Research, 62, 3–9. doi:10.1016/0165-1781(96)02983-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, A., Ramsey, R., Turnbull, S., Steele, M., Steele, H., & Treasure, J. (2001). Attachment in anorexia nervosa: A transgenerational perspective. The British Journal of Medical Psychology, 74, 497–505. doi:10.1348/000711201161145.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteley, P., Rodgers, J., & Shattock, P. (2000). MMR and autism. Autism, 4, 207–211. doi:10.1177/1362361300004002008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P. G., Darlymple, N., & Neal, J. (2000). Eating habits of children with autism. Pediatric Nursing, 26, 259–264.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woolston, J. L. (1991). Eating and growth disorders in infants and children. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zucker, N. L., Losh, M., Bulik, C. M., LaBar, K. S., Piven, J., & Pelphrey, K. A. (2007). Anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorders: Guided investigation of social cognitive endophenotypes. Psychological Bulletin, 133, 976–1006. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.6.976.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the participants of this study and the following professionals for their help and support: Ioannis Agaliotis, Christos Alexiou, Eleni Alyfanti, Dimosthenis Andriopoulos, Dimitrios Axiotis, Anastasia Christofilopoulou, Antonia Dionysopoulou, Ourania Founta, Angeliki Gena, Maria Georgiadi, Theodoros Gerontas, Efthalia Kaderoglou, Maria Kapetanaki, Athanasios Kousthenis, Antonios Katsoulas, Athena Matsouka, George Kolyvas, Georgia Loggou, Evangelia Magoula, Dimitris Matthaios, Eva Mourelatou, Vagia Papageorgiou, Katerina Papathanasiou, Elias Petalas, Filippos Stefanidis, Maria Tarpani, Georgia Theohari, Spyridon Trikoss, Vlastaris Tsakiris, Nikolaos Tsibiskakis, Marina Tsontaki, Katerina Vagena, Assimina Vatsistsi, Dimitra Vgontza.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, City Liberal Studies, Affiliated Institution of the University of Sheffield, 24 Proxenou Koromila Street, 546 22, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Efrosini Kalyva

Authors
  1. Efrosini Kalyva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Efrosini Kalyva.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kalyva, E. Comparison of Eating Attitudes between Adolescent Girls with and without Asperger Syndrome: Daughters’ and Mothers’ Reports. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 480–486 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0648-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0648-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation