PICA AND AUTISM FULL

If your child seeks out particular sensory sensations, try to replace one sensory object (food) with another (non-food). Overeating because of sensory sensitivities Sometimes children think they’re hungry when they’re really just thirsty. Make sure that your child drinks plenty of water throughout the day, especially between mealtimes.

PICA AND AUTISM FULL

While your child is getting used to the new mealtime routine, it can help to have some low-fat, low-energy snacks handy, so that your child is neither too hungry nor too full at the next meal. This can help your child adjust to eating certain quantities of food at certain times.

Overeating because of unpredictable mealtimes If you think your child’s overeating might be because of obsessions or compulsions, try to limit how much food you put on your child’s plate, and how much food is in sight. You could try making this part of your child’s daily routine, perhaps at a time of day when your child might otherwise want to snack.

Encourage your child to do some physical activity as part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

This can be good if your child snacks when they’re bored.

Have some of your child’s favourite activities handy to keep your child busy until it’s time for a regular meal or snack.

If your child is older, or particularly good at reaching hidden spaces, you might need to keep these foods out of your house. This can encourage your child to snack less.

Keep ‘problem’ or snack foods out of reach.

The best strategies for autistic children and teenagers who overeat depend on what’s causing the overeating. Managing overeating in autistic children and teenagers Our dietary guidelines can help you work out whether your child is getting the right portion sizes for their age: food for children 2-3 years, food for children 4-8 years, food for children 9-11 years, food for children 12-13 years and food for teens 14-18 years.

Sensory sensitivities: for example, if your child likes soft textures, they might regularly seek out soft foods and eat too much of them.

Unpredictable mealtimes: if your child doesn’t have set mealtimes, they might be more likely to snack throughout the day.

If your child overeats at mealtimes and wants an excessive amount of food, they might be showing signs of compulsive behaviour.

Obsessions with food: is your child’s overeating more than a habit? Your child might have an obsession with a particular food, which they can’t control.

Habit: is your child snacking at particular times of the day? While watching TV? On the computer? When they don’t have anything in particular to do? Keeping a diary for a few days will help you see whether there’s a pattern to your child’s snacking.

If there are no medical reasons, your child might be overeating for one or more of the following reasons: Your child’s GP or paediatrician will be able to tell you if this is an issue for your child. Some children eat more because their medication increases their appetite. This can help you manage your child’s eating behaviour. If your child has overeating habits, it’s good to work out why.

Some autistic children might graze all day, and some might eat too much at meals. Overeating is when children eat too much.

Overeating: why it happens in autistic children and teenagers

Pica and autism