Is there any connection between asd and overeating?

[rosiejoy]

I don't mind whether it's anecdotal or csientific

*scientific

Quite the opposite if DS is anything to go by.

Yes, DS is almost 3 and he seems to eat the bare minimum he needs to survive. Dry foods; toast, ice cream cones, dry noodles, crisps (one flavour one brand), basic cakes, plus fruit and milk. He is quite a stocky-looking chap but I have no idea how or why. He is still BF when he can catch me

He suffers severe stomach pain at night and I would love to try the diet but he gets no protein from any source but milk and his carbs are all glutein-based. His Paed told us not to eliminate things from his diet just yet and I do understand.

What do you do about the gastro problems? Should I ask my GP for a referral?

Ds is the opposite too and his diet is extremely limited

All to do with the Interoceptive sense

www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist.html

scroll down the page to Interoceptive sense at the very bottom of the page and it states 'unable to regulate hunger; eats all the time, won't eat at all, unable to feel full/hungry'

My understanding is the non-eaters are over-responsive and the non stop-eaters are under-responsive.

Hope this is of some help.

Thanks will have a look at that.

Ds hasn't been diagnosed or anything, so all speculative at the moment. He is 3 and a half, we are moving house next week, and preschool asked me to come in for chat before he left....basically they also think he has asd.

He loves eating (understatement) and I have to hide food from him. It's difficult now because he just pulls a chair and climbs on that.

He is stocky too, but has been since birth (8lb 5oz baby and I'm petite), and he's not overwieght. But it's something I feel could become a problem in the future if I don't keep an eye on it.

Bit tmi, but his movements always been a bit 'loose' so will definitely be looking into dietary things I can change.

Morning Rosiejoy, from what i can make of it all difficulties with sensory processing is very common in ASD and not eating or over eating are just different sides of the same coin iyswim.

Ds despite having an extremely limited diet and only eating carbs, fat and sugar, his movements are always a bit loose too, which is very surprising. Given what he actually eats, he should be constipated. I think there is definitely a connection with ASD and bowels too.

Good luck.

That's a really useful link, will send to dp to have a look too.

Lots there that applied to ds, and could definitely see a pattern emerging, thinkgs that I wouldn't otherwise have connected.

Eg. he appears to be under-responsive to touch, has sensory seeking behaviours and under-registers oral input.

I'm not sure how long it would have taken me to see the link between chewing on his sleeves, and not reacting to pain, quite so clearly.

My son has ASD and ADHD (and LD) but seems to have very poor body awareness and can be very compulsive. He has lots of sensory issues but tends to be a sensory seeker. A box of tissues will be completely shredded (he is 10) or a complete box of chocolates or bag of manderins once found consumed. He helps himself to food without remembering he should ask. So we hide things too! Without sanctions he tends to get distracted at the table and forgets to eat (or gobbles the lot in 5 seconds if it is something he craves)- I do not think he recognises hunger properly, or when he is full.

DS1 alternates between extremes. Sometimes he will eat and eat, constantly scrounging more food (but boy does he burn it off!) and then if he's upset, he'll refuse food altogether. his relationship with food is definitely not a balanced one.

Dd1 rarely eats but her sister will eat and eat, she will pinch food (when she can) and could happily eat all day. So i would say 'yes there could be a link'.