Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin

ANTHROPOMETRIC NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EGYPTIAN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

El-Nofely Aly, Kandeel Wafaa, El-Wakeel Khaled, Abdelmaguid Nagwa

National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

El-Nofely Aly, e-mail: elnofely@gmail.com.

Abstract

Autism is the fastest rising developmental disorder in the world today. Studies denote aberrations in conduct during meals, selectivity of food as well as problems in timing of meals. The aim of this study is to assess the nutritional status of children suffering from autism using anthropometric criteria. 100 Egyptian children diagnosed with autism of the age range 3-10 years and of whom 71 males and 29 females were studied. Body weight, height, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness had been assessed in view of the relevant measurements, by age and sex, of normal healthy Egyptian children. The mean Z score of all measurements attempted, calculated BMI and its standard deviations as well as the range are presented. Using single sample t-test, it was found that all measurements are significantly higher than normal with the exception of body height and mid-upper arm circumference. Probably the increase in fat component in our autistic children is due to increased carbohydrate and fat intake as well as sedentary life style, thus suggesting introduction of a feeding program for such children to overcome the unfavorable consequences of the disease.

Keywords

autism, anthropometry, nutrition, children, Egypt

Цит.: El-Nofely Aly, Kandeel Wafaa, El-Wakeel Khaled, Abdelmaguid Nagwa ANTHROPOMETRIC NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EGYPTIAN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2014; 3/2014; с. 26-26

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