There is a growing interest in the relationship between autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and eating disorders (EDs), two relatively common conditions lying on a spectrum from mild to severe clinical features. However, only limited data are available about pathological eating behaviors throughout adults on the autistic spectrum. The aim of the present study is to assess dysfunctional eating behaviors, including EDs manifestations and ASDs-related eating disturbances, in a population of adults with ASDs without intellectual disabilities. We recruited 106 adults on the autistic spectrum, without intellectual disability and 103 neurotypical adults (NAs). Participants completed the “Eating Attitude Test” (EAT-26), to measure symptoms and concerns characteristic of EDs, and the “Swedish Eating Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders” (SWEAA), to assess eating behaviors frequently observed within the autistic spectrum. Participants with ASDs scored significantly higher than NA at the EAT-26 and at the SWEAA. Moreover, participants with ASDs scored higher than NA at the EAT-26 subscales Dieting and Bulimia. The difference between groups remained significant after controlling for the effect of age, biological sex, and BMI. These results suggest that adults with ASDs without intellectual disability presented not only a higher prevalence of eating disturbances typical of the autistic spectrum, but also other symptoms of EDs in comparison to NA.

中文翻译：

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无智力障碍的自闭症谱系障碍成人的饮食失调

人们对自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 和进食障碍 (ED) 之间的关系越来越感兴趣，这两种相对常见的病症的临床特征范围从轻度到重度不等。然而，关于自闭症谱系成年人的病理性饮食行为的数​​据有限。本研究的目的是评估无智力障碍的 ASD 成人人群的功能失调性饮食行为，包括 ED 表现和 ASD 相关的饮食障碍。我们招募了 106 名患有自闭症、无智力障碍的成年人和 103 名神经典型的成年人 (NA)。参与者完成了“饮食态度测试”（EAT-26），以测量 ED 的症状和关注特征，以及“瑞典自闭症谱系障碍饮食评估”（SWEAA），评估在自闭症谱系中经常观察到的饮食行为。患有 ASD 的参与者在 EAT-26 和 SWEAA 中的得分明显高于 NA。此外，患有 ASD 的参与者在 EAT-26 节食和贪食症分量表中的得分高于 NA。在控制了年龄、生理性别和 BMI 的影响后，组间差异仍然显着。这些结果表明，与 NA 相比，没有智力障碍的 ASD 成人不仅表现出更高的自闭症谱系典型饮食失调患病率，而且还表现出其他 ED 症状。患有 ASD 的参与者在 EAT-26 节食和贪食症分量表中的得分高于 NA。在控制了年龄、生理性别和 BMI 的影响后，组间差异仍然显着。这些结果表明，与 NA 相比，没有智力障碍的 ASD 成人不仅表现出更高的自闭症谱系典型饮食失调患病率，而且还表现出其他 ED 症状。患有 ASD 的参与者在 EAT-26 节食和贪食症分量表中的得分高于 NA。在控制了年龄、生理性别和 BMI 的影响后，组间差异仍然显着。这些结果表明，与 NA 相比，没有智力障碍的 ASD 成人不仅表现出更高的自闭症谱系典型饮食失调患病率，而且还表现出其他 ED 症状。