Avaliação da seletividade alimentar em escolares autistas

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social, communicative, and behavioral impairments, which negatively affect an individual's relationship with food, leading to nutritional deficiencies and aggravation of the underlying condition. Recent studies indicate that around 1% of the global population has autism, and within this group, approximately 80% exhibit food selectivity. In this context, this research aimed to evaluate the food selectivity of patients with autism. The present study is a cross- sectional research and is part of a project entitled "Nutritional Assessment, Food Selectivity, and Gut Microbiota in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder," with CAAE: 67762723.0.0000.5188. Its target audience consisted of school-age children with autism who are supported by the Fundação Centro Integrado de Apoio à Pessoa com Deficiência (FUNAD) in João Pessoa-PB. Food selectivity was diagnosed, described, and classified according to its frequency and level of intensity. Data collection for this research was conducted in the waiting room of FUNAD services, with the participation of caregivers and individuals with ASD, using a questionnaire created on Google Forms. The data were tabulated on the Google Sheets platform and analyzed using descriptive statistics via SPSS software for Windows, version 21.0. Of the 86 participants in the study, 9.3% did not exhibit food selectivity, 30.2% exhibited mild selectivity, 52.3% showed moderate selectivity, and 8.1% displayed severe selectivity, which also provides an overview of the ASD population in João Pessoa-PB. From the data analysis, it was concluded that the studied population showed a high prevalence of food selectivity, especially at a moderate level. This reinforces the need for appropriate interventions that can improve the quality of life for this population.