Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Objectives included evaluation of the feeding habits of a sample of autistic children and its impacts on the frequency and severity of gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) and sleep disorders and to determine the beneficial effects of 20-week physical activity (PA) program on these disorders.

Patients and Methods: 120 Children aged 6-11 years were randomly divided into PA and No-PA groups who attended as trainee and audience, respectively. The applied tools included calculation of body mass index (BMI), GI Signs and Symptoms Inventory, Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI), severity of food selectivity (FS), the Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the Behavior Problem Inventory (BPI). The PA program was provided according to the Physical Exercise Program (PEP-Aut) and at the end the percentages of change were determined.

Results: After PA program, BMI of trainee had decreased by 7.8±2.2% with significant difference than their pre-intervention BMI and that of No-PA children. The frequency and scores of children had CSHQ score of ≥ 41 were significantly decreased than the pre-intervention scores. Also, BPI scores showed significant reduction than the pre-intervention scores of both groups. Ten of audience asked to join the intervention and six of them formed training couples.

Conclusion: PA improved obesity, sleep disorders and behavioral problems and this was significantly reflected on the severity of GIDs. Attendance of PA programs even as audience might improve the social communication behavior of the autistics and motivate them to share in the program and to form couples with others.