Hi There,
Have you ever felt like your meal routine was a little...different?Â
You're not alone!Â
We'd like to share some intriguing insights about eating problems in adults with autism, and it's eye-opening. đâ¨
đ˝ď¸ Eating Challenges for Adults with Autism: The Research saysâŚ
Men with Autism: The Struggle is Real
Research has shown that men with autism face various eating problems that can disrupt their daily lives and relationships.
These issues range from being extremely picky with food to feeling uncomfortable eating around others.
Key Insights:
Picky Eating:Â Men with autism scored 12.6 on the picky eating scale, compared to 9.7 for neurotypical men.
Social Mealtime Discomfort:Â Men with autism scored 23.4 in social mealtime discomfort, compared to 18.7 for neurotypical men.
Impact on Your Relationship: đŤ đ
Imagine your partner is struggling with picky eating or social discomfort during meals. This can make shared mealsâa common bonding activityâstressful or even impossible.
Misunderstandings and frustrations can arise, affecting the emotional connection and harmony in the relationship.
 đĽ Women with Autism: A Closer Examination
Heightened Sensitivity and Eating Disorders
The same study found that women with autism experience even more significant eating problems than men.
They report higher sensitivity to the sensory aspects of food, such as taste, smell, and texture, and display symptoms of eating disorders, like food refusal and purging.
Key Insights:
Sensitivity to Food:Â Women with autism scored 26.4 on sensitivity to food, compared to 20.6 for neurotypical women.
Picky Eating:Â Women with autism scored 13.2 on picky eating, compared to 10.6 for neurotypical women.
Eating Disorder Symptoms:Â Women with autism scored 10.5 on eating disorder symptoms, compared to 8.8 for neurotypical women.
Impact on Your Relationship: đŤÂ đ
For women with autism, heightened food sensitivities and eating disorder symptoms can create significant strain.
Partners might struggle to understand why certain foods or mealtimes are problematic, leading to feelings of isolation and tension.
Addressing these challenges with empathy and tailored support is crucial for maintaining a healthy, supportive relationship.
đ¨ Sensory Sensitivities & Interoception
How Sensory Sensitivities Affect Eating Behaviors
Research has also shown that sensory sensitivities in adults with autism are strongly linked to dysfunctional eating behaviors. Specifically:
Visual Hypersensitivity:Â Those who are overly sensitive to visual stimuli tend to have higher levels of both eating disorder symptoms and autistic eating behaviors.
Taste Hyposensitivity:Â Those with reduced sensitivity to taste are more likely to exhibit eating disorder symptoms.
Interoception: The Hidden Link
Another important factor to consider is interoception, which is how we perceive signals from our own body, like hunger, thirst, and even heartbeats.
A recent study found that people with autism often experience atypical interoception, meaning they might not always sense these bodily signals accurately.
This can contribute to eating problems and disorders.
𧊠Choose the Neuro-Informed Nourishment Way
Our Call to Action
Mainstream treatments for disordered eating are generally âone size fits allâ.
This can fail to help and, even worse, harm neurodivergent people.
At Eating & Autism Therapy (EAT), our individualized approach considers you as a whole person when it comes to food and eating, integrating an understanding of neuro-informed nourishment and trauma-informed care to honor your unique needs and autonomy.Â
We see autism (or other forms of neurodiversity) as a strength and help you use it to your advantage.
We are here to support you to explore and understand the patterns in your brain, body, nervous system, thoughts, and behaviors around food.
We support you to define for yourself what you want and need when it comes to eating and find strategies that allow you to feel more comfortable and capable with your nourishment.
This process is both practical and deep, as many clients find broader growth and healing along the way, like increased self-awareness and self-acceptance, happier relationships, more self-agency, and relief from chronic despair and shame.
If you and your partner are struggling with the impact of eating problems on your relationship, we are here to help.Â
Stay strong and keep thriving!
Â
Harry
Dr. Harry Motro, LMFT, Clinical Director
Founder Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center
Meet a Neuro-Informed Eating Specialist!
Danielle Grossman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Neuro-Inclusive Disordered Eating Specialist.
Her neuro-inclusive approach to therapy combines several factors to help clients better understand themselves and their relationship with eating. Among these factors are the neuroscience of eating, genetic components, the neuro-different brain as it relates to eating, and the impact of trauma.
Danielle is passionate about moving away from harmful, more traditional eating disorder treatments and working with neurodivergent couples and individuals who seek help with eating and nourishment. Are you ready to get started and begin healing your relationship with eating?
Want to Meet with Our Client Care Coordinator?
Let's talk so I can match you with the neuro-informed eating specialist that's right for you.
Do You Feel Restricted or Weighed Down by Your Rigid Routines?
Want to measure how your repetitive behaviors present themselves in your life?
We invite you to visit the Adult Autism Assessment Site and take the Adult Repetitive Behaviors Questionnaire-2 (RBQ-2A).
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