Abstract
Approximately 1 in every 100 children in the United States has autism spectrum disorder. Autistic children and adolescents constitute a high-risk group to develop obesity and underweight because of atypical eating behaviors and physical activity patterns. The objective of this study was to assess the weight status of a group of children with autism who reside in North Carolina. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's growth charts were used to evaluate the weight and growth categories (eg, overweight, obese) among children participating in the Autism Society of North Carolina's summer camp. Thirty-eight percent of the 221 participants were either overweight or obese. About 10% of children were underweight. Findings indicated that children with autism have a high prevalence of overweight, obesity, underweight, and short stature.