Data For Food Selectivity in Children with ASD: An Investigation of Sensory, Motor, and Behavioral Aspects

<b>Introduction:</b> Food selectivity is highly prevalent in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), characterized by strong food preferences and aversions. Sensory, gastrointestinal, motor, and behavioral factors may contribute to selective patterns. Although there is growing interest in the topic, there are still gaps in the literature regarding the interaction between these different factors.<b>Objective:</b> to investigate sensory, motor, gastrointestinal, and behavioral aspects involved in food selectivity in children with ASD.<b>Method:</b> This was a descriptive, exploratory, and quantitative study conducted with caregivers of children with ASD, aged between 2 years and 6 years and 11 months, who agreed to participate by signing a consent. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics<b>Results:</b> Responses were obtained from 152 caregivers. According to them, 92.1% of the children refuse to try new foods; 49.7% only accept foods from specific brands or packages; 51.3% do not tolerate mixed foods on the plate; 83.4% do not eat vegetables and 63.6% reject fruits; 57.7% only accept foods at specific temperatures; 47.0% only eat foods of certain colors and 47.0% prefer crunchy foods. Some children have extremely restricted diets, accepting only two or three types of food. Strong indications of tactile hyperreactivity were observed in a significant portion of the children (85.4% show discomfort when touching different textures; 76.2% feel uncomfortable when they are dirty; 70.9% do not tolerate washing, combing or cutting their hair; 67.5% have difficulty cutting their nails and 55.6% have difficulty brushing their teeth). Auditory and olfactory sensitivities were also found in more than 60% of the children. Regarding chewing, 32.5% keep food in their mouths for long periods; 34.7% chew on only one side of the mouth; and 66.9% swallow without chewing properly, with frequent episodes of choking occurring in 30.7% of the children. Motor agitation was observed in 56.3% of the children; 43.7% have tantrums or cry, making eating difficult. Ritualistic behaviors were observed in nearly 50% of the children, and 31.3% refuse to eat outside the home. Regarding gastrointestinal symptoms, 30.5% frequently vomit after meals; 41.7% have gas or abdominal distension, and 43.7% have constipation. Only 19.2% have some type of allergy or intolerance diagnosed.<br><br><b>Conclusion:</b> This study highlighted the multifaceted nature of food selectivity in children with ASD. The results reinforce the significant impact of sensory sensitivities, oral-motor limitations, gastrointestinal alterations, behavioral challenges, and rigid eating patterns on food acceptance and meal dynamics. These difficulties compromise not only nutritional status but also negatively affect family routines, social participation, and the child's quality of life.