An integrated nutrition intervention through the Part C Early Intervention Services to promote healthy eating habits for children with ASD

项目摘要 营养干预的需求尚未得到满足， (ASD)ASD儿童的特殊喂养挑战和不平衡的饮食习惯， 预防未来的慢性健康状况。患有ASD的儿童往往很少吃水果， 蔬菜和主要是高能量密集的食物，包括含糖饮料， 加工过的零食ASD儿童的肥胖患病率比正常儿童高出40%。 发展中的儿童，最近的研究表明，高脂血症的风险显着增加， ASD患者的高血压，无论是否使用精神药物。我们 一个跨学科小组进行了初步研究，以检查饮食质量和用餐时间 佛罗里达不同ASD儿童（34%为西班牙裔/拉丁裔）和父母的行为 营养干预的偏好。根据研究结果，我们制定了手册 对于我们的营养干预，自闭症饮食，为儿童与ASD登记的C部分， 残疾人教育法案（IDEA）早期干预（EI）服务。我们的自闭症 Eats手册和家长材料基于ASD特定的喂养策略，如逃避 灭绝和食物链结合以行为为重点的营养干预策略 例如目标设定和每周膳食计划，以促进健康饮食。我们对 干预与少数EI提供者和父母-孩子二人组（n=5），以检查如何 干预组件符合C部分服务设置。初步保真度和提供者 访谈数据表明，干预手册易于遵循， 在EI服务中广泛实施，表明非常适合。与会者进一步建议， 改进干预措施的创新方法，如增加更多的实践活动， 会议和社交媒体组件。根据这些建议，我们将改进我们的 干预材料（目标1），并进行试点随机对照试验（RCT），以测试 这项创新的营养干预计划的可行性和初步疗效，自闭症饮食， 预防不良的进餐行为，促进健康饮食习惯的养成 在佛罗里达参加Part C EI服务的ASD儿童中（Aim 2）。我们预计 自闭症饮食将是可行的，并受到EI提供者和亲子二人组的欢迎。我们将 检查儿童的食物摄入量（水果和蔬菜），食物种类，饮食质量， 自闭症儿童和EUC儿童之间的进餐行为和问题 干预后和基线5个月随访时的组。

PROJECT SUMMARY There is an unmet need for nutrition interventions that address both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) specific feeding challenges and unbalanced eating habits among children with ASD to prevent future chronic health conditions. Children with ASD tend to consume few fruit and vegetables and mainly high-energy dense foods, including sugar-sweetened beverages and processed snacks. Obesity prevalence in children with ASD is up to 40% higher than in typically developing children, and recent studies show significantly elevated risks of hyperlipidemia and hypertension among individuals with ASD, regardless of using psychotropic medications. Our interdisciplinary team conducted a preliminary study to examine diet quality and mealtime behaviors among diverse children with ASD in Florida (34% Hispanic/Latino) and parental preferences for nutrition interventions. Based on the study findings, we developed the manual for our nutrition intervention, Autism Eats, for children with ASD enrolled in the Part C of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Early Intervention (EI) services. Our Autism Eats manual and parent materials are based on ASD-specific feeding strategies such as escape extinction and food chaining combined with behaviorally-focused nutrition intervention strategies such as goal setting and weekly meal planning to promote healthy eating. We pilot-tested the intervention with a small number of EI providers and parent-child dyads (n=5) to examine how intervention components fit with the Part C service setting. Preliminary fidelity and provider interview data indicated that the intervention manual was easy to follow and has potential to be widely implemented in the EI services, indicating a good fit. Participants further suggested innovative ways to improve the intervention such as adding more hands-on activities, booster sessions, and social media components. Based on these suggestions, we will refine our intervention materials (Aim 1) and conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of this innovative nutrition intervention program, Autism Eats, to prevent problematic mealtime behaviors and promote development of healthy eating habits among children with ASD enrolled in Part C EI services in Florida (Aim 2). We expect that Autism Eats will be feasible and well-received by EI providers and parent-child dyads. We will examine differences in children’s food intakes (fruit and vegetables), food variety, diet quality, and problematic mealtime behaviors between children in Autism Eats and those in the EUC groups at post-intervention and 5-month follow-up from baseline.