What does diet have to do with Autism?
Time and again people in the NDIS try to say that diet has nothing to do with Autism, but they are so wrong.
If you are an Autistic person there’s a high chance that this is affecting the way you eat or the way you react to food. This is obvious to you and/or your loved ones but many of the companies which provide therapies specifically to people with Autism don’t even offer dietetic services. Let’s touch on some of these.
Sensitive or poor interoception. Interoception is the sense of feeling what is going on inside of our bodies, such as when we are hungry, thirsty or need to use the bathroom. Some Autistic people have either an extra sensitive or under sensitive sense of interoception which can lead to over-eating (can’t tell they are full), under-eating (can’t tell they are hungry or feel full very quickly) and issues with toileting among other things.
Sensory seeking tendencies. Most people have sensory sensing seeking tendencies at some level, foods like potato chips are a great example of a food that we just keep going back for! Some Autistic people require higher levels of sensory input to keep regulated whether through firm pressure, sound, movement or eating/drinking. Food related ways this might present are skulling of drinks or drinking a lot, binge eating or eating large portions of food (especially of those higher serotonin producing foods which are usually not the healthiest) or consumption of very strongly flavoured or concentrated foods or non food items (e.g. spoonfuls of vegemite, salt, sugar, toothpaste, shampoo etc.). This can lead to increased consumption of foods which are linked to chronic health conditions and can be immediately dangerous in the case of eating large quantities of salt or dangerous chemicals.
Sensory avoiding tendencies. This is the most common reason for the referrals I get. Some Autistic people are more sensitive to things including sound, taste, texture, visual stimulus and smell, which are all parts of the eating experience. These clients may struggle with food related sensory inputs including: foods which are brightly coloured (consuming a “beige diet”), foods with stronger smells or flavours, eating and cutlery sounds and foods of a particular or unpredictable texture. This can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, difficulties in social events where food is involved and in severe cases malnutrition.
Higher rates of food sensitivities and gut issues. Autistic people are more likely to suffer from gut issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and food chemical sensitivities (can present as rashes, headaches, gut issues, fatigue, aches and pains). Gluten and lactose are often the only things that people cut out but there is little evidence to support that this is enough to improve their symptoms. A dietitian with extra training in this area (such as myself) can help you follow an elimination diet safely to determine which foods are the ones causing discomfort and preventing you from being happier and calmer.
Higher rates of eating disorders and disordered eating. Eating disorders often stem from poor body image but they can also be the result of following strict rules as a form of self regulation. Studies show that around 25% of adults with eating disorders are also Autistic and the chance of having Autism is more than 15 times higher among people with Anorexia. Treatment of eating disorders should involve an eating disorder psychologist and in some cases requires hospitalisation.
Side effects from medications used to manage behaviour in Autism and ADHD. Several medications prescribed to Autistic people to stabilise their mood can cause a large shift in body weight. Medications used to treat ADHD can affect appetite and people on this medication may need assistance to balance their diet when they have no appetite all day!
If these are going on untreated and leaving you feeling unwell you have additional barriers to reaching your full potential. Do you think some of these could be happening to you, your client or your loved one? Get in contact and I can help you towards managing these food related concerns.