Eating Disorders and Autism

Autism, food and eating

It’s common for people with autism to have atypical eating behaviours and issues with food or eating.   Often individuals may have food aversions or be highly sensitive to the textures, look, smell or sound of certain foods. The social aspects of eating (such as sitting at a table with others, waiting until others are finished) can also be challenging and there may also be physical difficulties such as oral problems (difficulties chewing or swallowing) which make eating a non-pleasurable experience.  Some individuals with autism might have difficulty in recognising their hunger or fullness signals and therefore either have no interest in food or eat until overly full or conversely, be highly sensitive to their hunger and fullness cues, finding them extremely uncomfortable to experience.

Many of these characteristics are commonly seen in people with eating disorders, so researchers have sought to further understand the relationship and prevalence of autism in people with eating disorders (and vice versa) – especially in females who experience a higher rate of eating disorders and in whom autism may be under-diagnosed.   

All types of eating disorders are experienced by people with autism with anorexia nervosa and ARFID being the most probable.

If you have an autism diagnosis or suspect you may have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it would be helpful to work with an eating disorder therapist who is skilled in this area and who can adapt treatment tools.