Articles
Barriers to Healthy Living in Children with Autism: Lifestyle Concerns
Medication
Weight gain is a common side-effect of the medications used to treat symptoms of autism. Regular physical activity is imperative in order to avoid the risks of childhood obesity and future health problems (see chart below).
Social Barriers
Children with autism have deficits in understanding social cues, as well as poor turn-taking skills, and reciprocal interactions with their peers. As most typically developing children are physically active with their peers, these social deficits leave children with autism at a disadvantage in terms of opportunities for physical activity.
Parental Challenges
Most children with autism have very long hours of structured therapy, whether it is in schools/centers, or home based IBI programs. This leaves little time for physical activity during the week.
Gym class
Current recommendations for children are at least 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Research shows that children with disabilities (e.g. mental retardation, physical and sensory impairments) do not meet these minimum guidelines and tend to be more sedentary than their peers. Time for physical activity is shrinking in schools due to budget cutbacks, and pressure to increase focus on academics. As a result, gym classes are not often enough to keep a child fit, especially when the child has special needs. Few students are exposed to physical activity daily, and often not much is expected of the child with special needs during gym classes, as long as the child is quiet.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Many children with autism develop obsessions around certain movies or video games, or are often encouraged to watch TV or play video games for therapeutic purposes or during down-time to allow for quiet time for parents or during transitions between therapy slots. This predisposes these children towards a more sedentary lifestyle.
What can be done to address these lifestyle concerns?
Physical activity programs can be added in as part of an existing IBI program or can provided by an outside programs, such as special needs sports groups. Structured recess activities, or specific goals designed to be implemented in gym class could be very beneficial to the special needs child.
Dr. Carole Smith has developed a special needs physical rehabilitation program now available at YOUR HEALTH Wellness Centre. For more information and to book your appointment please call 905.829.0724.
| Childhood risks of obesity | Adult (long term) risks of obesity |
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