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Atypical eating behaviors displayed by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) predispose them to unhealthy weight gain. We determined the factors associated with body weight status among 261 children with ASD (3-18 years) at nine autism intervention centers. Their mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic background, parenting style, parental feeding practices, parenting stress, sleep habits, eating behaviors, and autism severity. Children with older age, non-full term gestational age, high maternal perceived weight, high maternal concern about child weight, and low pressure to eat were more likely to be overweight and obese. Obesity is a major concern among children with ASD. Healthy weight management programs for parents should incorporate appropriate feeding practices and a healthy perception of body weight.

Parenting programs often train parents in improving their parenting practices and parent-child relationship to reduce behavioral problems in children. However, the children's prosocial behaviors are less examined as an intervention outcome in these programs. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Incredible Years parenting program (IYPP) for Malaysian parents of school-going children and its sustainability in improving the children's prosocial behaviors. This randomized controlled study involved pre- and post-intervention assessments at 2 and 14 weeks. Mothers of children aged 6-12 years (n = 70) recruited through the pediatrics and the child and adolescent psychiatric clinics were randomly assigned to the parenting program or a waitlist control condition. The mothers rated their children's prosocial behaviors using a self-administered questionnaire. The program ran two to three hours weekly for 14 weeks. Several modifications were made to the program to accommodate public health control during the pandemic. Children in the intervention group showed a notable but non-significant increase in prosocial skills. However, subsequent score decline at follow-up may suggest a lack of evidence that the program is potentially effective in improving prosocial behaviors among school children who are at risk of or already having behavioral problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Children with ASD faced the problems of underweight and overweight/obesity. • Children with ASD had inadequate intake of several essential nutrients. • Nutritional status of children with ASD should be monitored regularly. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in general, possess selective eating habits and sensory sensitivity that predispose them to the risk of poor nutritional status. Nutritional status of children is important for optimal physical and cognitive development and reduction of the risk of chronic diseases in the future. Given the limited information on the body weight status and nutrient intake of Malaysian children with ASD, this study, therefore, assessed the body weight status and dietary intake of children with ASD in an autism intervention centre in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 224 children with ASD aged 3–7 years (82.6% boys and 17.4% girls) and their mothers participated in this study. Mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire on the sociodemographic background and recorded a 3-day food diary of their children with ASD at home. The researcher measured body weight and height of the children with ASD in the centre. The prevalence rates of underweight, stunting, wasting/thinness, and overweight/obesity were 9.3%, 8.0%, 4.0%, and 21.5%, respectively. Total energy and protein intakes were adequate for most of the children with ASD but calorie from fat was higher than the recommendation. A majority of the children with ASD in this study did not meet the RNI requirements for fibre (99.6%), thiamine (67.4%), vitamin C (50.9%), vitamin D (98.2%), vitamin E (74.6%), vitamin B 12 (64.3%), folate (88.8%), calcium (90.2%) and zinc (77.2%). More girls showed inadequate intakes of vitamin C, niacin and vitamin B 12 than boys. Children with ASD in this study showed poor body weight status and inadequate intake of several essential nutrients. Nutritional intervention programmes in improving nutrient adequacy and regular anthropometric measurements are recommended to be carried out in order to improve nutritional status of children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]