Intensity of food neophobia and fruit and vegetable consumption in children with autism spectrum disorders – preliminary findings

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the level of food neophobia and the consumption of vegetables and fruit among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in relation to a control group of healthy children. Materials and methods: The study included 63 children aged 7–14, including 32 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (study group) and 31 healthy children (control group). The survey questionnaire intended for parents used the validated Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS) and the KomPAN questionnaire to assess selected eating habits. The severity of food neophobia and the relationship between its level and the preferences and consumption of vegetables and fruit in both groups were assessed. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on body weight and height, and then compared to percentile charts in order to assess body weight status. The significance of the relationship between qualitative variables was analyzed using the Pearson’s chi-square test (Statistica 13.3). Results: A high level of food neophobia (19–24 points) was significantly more common in the group of children with autism (59,4%) compared with healthy children (29%). A greater proportion of children with ASD did not consume any fruit (3) and/or vegetables (7) compared to healthy children (1 and 3, respectively). Conclusions: A high degree of food neophobia was observed in children with autism, which negatively influenced their consumption of vegetables and fruit. Consequently, it is recommended that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder receive education on how to develop appropriate eating behaviors and reduce the level of food neophobia in their children.