What Is the Connection Between Autism and Eating Disorders

Many autistic kids have special ways of eating. Research says about 70% of autistic kids eat differently, like being picky or avoiding food. These habits include eating only a few foods, not liking some textures, and choosing only certain brands.

Autistic people are more likely to get eating disorders like anorexia or ARFID. Knowing about these problems can help you support people who have them.

Key Takeaways

• About 70% of autistic kids have special eating habits. They may be picky or avoid some foods.
• Autism and eating disorders often happen together. About 20% to 30% of people with eating disorders also have autism.
• Sensory sensitivities are important in eating behaviors. These make it hard for autistic people to try new foods.
• Problems with handling emotions can cause unhealthy eating. This can mean eating too much or not eating enough.
• Therapy that fits sensory needs and routines is very important. It helps treat eating disorders in autistic people.
• Family support and a team of different experts can help recovery. They give understanding and helpful resources.
• Finding eating disorders early can help people get better. It gives more support to those who need it.
• Groups like NEDA and ANAD give good help and information. They support families with autism and eating disorders.

Prevalence

Autism and Eating Disorder Statistics

You may wonder how often autism and eating disorders happen together. Many studies show these two conditions are linked.

Researchers studied thousands of people and found some key facts:

• Around 70% of autistic children have different eating habits, like being picky or not eating certain foods.
• Between 20% and 30% of people with eating disorders also have autism.
• In ARFID studies, 16.27% of patients had autism, and 11.41% of autistic people had ARFID.
• Studies show autism and eating disorders happen together in 23% to 32% of cases.
• In one group, 10% already had autism, and 12.5% got a new autism diagnosis while getting help for eating disorders.
• On average, 4.7% of people with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
• Kids with autism often avoid some foods and are sensitive to how food feels.

These facts show that autism and eating disorders often happen together. Many people with one condition may also have the other. This means you should watch eating habits closely if someone has autism.

Eating problems in autism, like eating only a few foods or having special ways of eating, can look like symptoms of anorexia nervosa.

Age and Gender Factors

Age and gender affect how autism and eating disorders show up. Research says autistic girls and women have more emotional eating problems.

For example, autistic females may eat less when they feel strong emotions. They also have more trouble with food textures and are pickier than neurotypical females.

Autistic boys often have more trouble with movement at meals, like using utensils or sitting still. These differences mean you should think about age and gender when looking at eating problems in autistic people.

You may see that younger autistic kids avoid more foods and are more sensitive. As they get older, these habits can change.

Girls may have more emotional eating problems, and boys may have more physical challenges at meals. Knowing these things helps you support autistic people better.

Co-Occurrence

Shared Risk Factors

Autism and eating disorder often happen together. This is because they have some of the same risk factors. When you look at eating habits, you may see patterns that connect these conditions.

• Cognitive inflexibility makes it hard to try new foods or change routines.
• Being sensitive to textures, tastes, or smells can make you avoid many foods.
• Some people have rituals around eating and are very picky. They might only eat certain foods or follow strict meal routines.
• Trouble making or keeping friends can lead to eating alone or feeling nervous at meals.
• Problems with emotion regulation, introspection, and empathy can affect how you notice hunger or fullness.

Some people with autism do not care much about food. They might feel full fast or avoid eating because of sensory issues. Some are scared of things like choking, vomiting, or allergies. These fears can make eating even more stressful.

If someone avoids many foods or reacts strongly to tastes and textures, they may need extra help with eating.

Sensory processing differences are very important. You might see people eat only a few foods or dislike many foods.

Sensory sensitivities, especially to taste and smell, are closely linked to disordered eating patterns like anorexia nervosa and ARFID. Strong feelings about these sensory issues can make eating harder and may cause people to eat less.

Neurodevelopmental Links

You might wonder why autism and eating disorder are so connected. The answer is often in how the brain grows and works. Researchers found both artefactual and real links between these conditions.

Genes may also play a role. If someone in your family has autism, your risk for an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa may be higher. This means genes can affect both conditions.

When you know about these links, you can help people with both autism and eating disorder. Seeing the shared risk factors and brain connections helps you find the right support and resources.

Manifestations

Anorexia in Autism

Anorexia nervosa can look different in autistic people. Autistic people and those with anorexia nervosa both notice small details. They also find it hard to change their routines.

These traits can make their eating habits unique. For autistic women, restrictive eating is often about sensory sensitivities. It is not just about body image worries. Some people avoid food because of how it feels or tastes. They do not always want to lose weight.

Studies show anorexia nervosa is much more common in autism spectrum disorder. About 20% to 35% of women with anorexia also have autism. This strong overlap means you should watch for sensory issues and rigid thinking. Do not only look for worries about weight.

Autistic people with anorexia may care less about body image. They focus more on how eating feels to them.

ARFID and Autism

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is common in autistic people. You may notice some signs that make ARFID different from other eating disorders:

• Sensory sensitivity to food
• Not interested in food or eating
• Fear of bad things happening when eating, like gagging or choking
• Choosing only a few foods to eat
• Avoiding foods because of how they taste or feel
• Not feeling hungry or not wanting to eat much

If someone avoids many foods or feels nervous about eating, they may have ARFID. These habits do not come from worries about weight or body shape.

Sensory experiences and fears about eating cause these behaviors. ARFID can lead to malnutrition and weight loss. You should pay attention to these signs.

Other Eating Disorders

Other eating disorders can also happen in autistic people. The symptoms may look different than in neurotypical people. Here are some examples:

• Anorexia Nervosa: Focus on weight and body image. But for autistic people, sensory issues and routines matter more.
• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Caused by sensory aversions and fears. Not by weight loss or body image worries. Symptoms include eating only a few foods and feeling upset about eating.
• Other unique ways: Some autistic people eat only certain brands or types of food. Some follow strict meal routines.

Remember, autism and eating disorder can show up in many ways. The reasons for these eating problems often include sensory sensitivities, rigid thinking, and emotional challenges. If you know about these differences, you can help autistic people with eating problems better.

Underlying Factors

Sensory Processing

Sensory processing affects how autistic people eat. Your senses can make eating easy or hard. Many autistic people react strongly to tastes, smells, or textures. Some foods look or feel strange.

Crunchy foods might seem too loud. Soft foods can feel weird in your mouth. These feelings can make you avoid some foods. You may only eat a few foods you trust.

Some autistic people dislike the smell of cooked vegetables. The texture of meat can feel bad. You might like foods that are smooth or taste mild. Sensory issues can make meals stressful.

You may eat foods that always look the same. You might not want foods to touch on your plate. These sensory differences often cause picky eating or strict food routines.

If you have trouble with food textures or tastes, you are not alone. Many autistic people have these problems too.

Interoception

Interoception is how you notice signals from inside your body. These signals include hunger, thirst, or fullness. Autistic people can sense these signals in different ways.

You may not know when you are hungry or full. Sometimes, you eat too little or too much. Your body’s signals can be confusing.

If you focus too much on body signals, eating may feel strange. You might skip meals because you feel uneasy. If you do not notice hunger or fullness, you may forget to eat. You might keep eating even when you are full. These habits can lead to eating problems.

Regular checkups help watch eating habits. Behavioral checks and food reviews help you eat better. Getting help from experts can improve interoception. You can learn healthier ways to eat.

You may:

• • Miss signs of hunger or fullness
  • Feel weird during meals
  • Use eating to handle confusing body signals

Knowing your body’s signals can help you make good choices about food.

Emotional Regulation

Emotional regulation is how you handle your feelings. Many autistic people find this hard, especially with eating.

You may not know what you feel or how to say it. This is called alexithymia. If you cannot name your feelings, you may use food to deal with stress or worry.

Trouble with emotions can cause eating problems. You might eat to feel better or skip eating when upset. Stress can make eating harder. Studies show emotional problems link autism and eating disorders. Therapy can help you work on feelings and build better eating habits.

Learning to handle feelings can help you feel better about food and meals.

Treatment Challenges

Diagnosis Barriers

It can be hard for autistic people to get an eating disorder diagnosis. Doctors often use rules that do not fit your real life. You might wonder if your eating problems are serious enough. You may feel unsure about who you are or if you need help.

“I haven’t felt Autistic enough or that my eating disorder is bad enough…I wouldn’t always ask for help.”
“People join studies without talking about why they act a certain way, or they are just compared to checklists, not real life, which can be very different.”

These feelings might stop you from asking for help. Medical forms may not show your struggles. Many autistic people do not look like the usual eating disorder patient. This can mean doctors miss or delay your diagnosis. You might feel alone or like no one understands you.

Standard Treatment Limitations

Usual eating disorder treatments often do not help autistic people much. Therapy may talk about body image or weight.

But your eating habits might come from sensory issues or routines. Many autistic traits stay the same, even if your weight changes. So, regular treatments may not work well for you.

• People with Anorexia Nervosa often have autistic traits, but normal treatments do not help these needs.
• If you have both Anorexia Nervosa and autistic traits, you may not get better as fast as others.
• Treatments that only talk about weight or body image may miss your real problems.
• Family-based treatments are common, but you may need special changes for them to help.
• Therapies that use your interests and help you understand your feelings, like alexithymia, can help you recover.
• Eating more food is important at first, but you also need therapy that fits your needs.

You need a plan that looks at your sensory needs, routines, and feelings. Doctors and therapists should listen to you and change treatments to fit you.

Communication Issues

Talking about your needs can be hard if you are autistic and have an eating disorder. You might have trouble saying how you feel. Sometimes, doctors and therapists do not get how you talk. This can make things confusing and frustrating.

• The “Double Empathy” problem means you and your doctor may not understand each other well.
• Treatment places can be too bright or loud, making it hard to pay attention.
• Healthcare workers may think you have certain skills or needs, which can cause confusion.
• Sensory overload and different ways of talking or listening can make visits stressful.

You need a team that understands how you talk. They should make the space calm and ask simple questions. When doctors and therapists learn about autism, they can help you feel safe and listened to. This makes treatment work better and feel less stressful.

Solutions and Support

Tailored Therapy

You need therapy that matches your needs. Regular eating disorder treatments often miss sensory problems. These problems can make autistic people avoid food.

Therapy should change to fit your sensory needs. The PEACE pathway gives menus with bland, low-smell, and smooth foods. This helps you feel better at meals.

Individual therapy may help more than group therapy. Therapists can focus on your own challenges. Changes in cognitive remediation therapy, emotion skills training, and cognitive behavioral therapy help you learn new skills. Treatments that only try to change how you think or act may not help. Therapists should listen and change their methods for you.

Therapists can:

• • Get special autism training
  • Make spaces friendly for autistic people
  • Use foods that fit your sensory needs
  • Focus on routines and keeping things the same
  • Help you learn emotion skills

The PEACE pathway shows autism-friendly changes help lower hospital stays and costs. Doctors feel more sure when they use these changes. You get better care and support.

Family and Multidisciplinary Support

You do not have to handle eating problems alone. Family and experts can work together to help you get better. Doctors, therapists, and nutritionists all help with your care. Each person brings their own skill to help you.

Working together is important for treating people with both autism and anorexia. This team approach makes sure all parts of your health are cared for, like your mind and your nutrition.

Your care team should talk often to understand your needs. They share ideas and make a plan that fits you. Your family can help by learning about autism and eating disorders. They can help you feel safe and understood.

Talking and sharing information between your care team is very important. This teamwork helps make a good plan that looks at all the hard parts of both conditions.

Resources

You can find many places to help you and your family. These groups give support, learning, and advice for autistic people with eating disorders.

You can also look at these helpful websites:

• Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE)
• HealthyChildren.org
• Autism Science Foundation

You have many choices for support. These resources help you learn, connect, and find hope for getting better.

There is a strong connection between autism and eating disorders. Many autistic people have special eating problems. Studies show lots of autistic traits in anorexia and ARFID. Getting help with emotions and routines can help you get better.

If you see eating problems, ask for help soon. You can find hope and support with care that fits you and help from your community.

FAQ

What eating disorders are most common in autistic people?

Anorexia nervosa and ARFID happen a lot in autistic people. These eating disorders are linked to sensory issues and routines. You might see picky eating or avoiding food.

How do sensory problems affect eating?

Sensory problems make you react to tastes, smells, or textures. You may not want foods that taste or feel strange. This can make you eat only a few safe foods.

Can eating disorders look different in autistic people?

Yes, eating disorders can look different in autistic people. You may not care much about body image. Eating problems often come from sensory sensitivities or strict routines. You might eat only certain foods or skip meals because of how they feel.

Why is it hard to diagnose eating disorders in autism?

Doctors may not notice signs because your eating habits are different. You might not talk about feelings or body image. This can make diagnosis and treatment take longer.

What treatments help autistic people with eating disorders?

You need therapy that matches your sensory needs and routines. Therapists should use autism-friendly ways to help. Family support and a team of experts can help you get better.

How can families support autistic loved ones with eating problems?

Families can learn about autism and eating disorders. You can help by making meals calm and keeping them the same. Support from doctors and therapists makes recovery easier.

Where can you find help and resources?

You can visit groups like NEDA, ANAD, and F.E.A.S.T. These groups give support, learning, and advice. Autism groups and mental health professionals also help.