Body Appreciation and the Association Between Maternal Eating Behavior and Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Name: MARINA REUTER PIEROTE
Publication date: 31/03/2026
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| FABIOLA LACERDA PIRES SOARES | Presidente |
| PAULA COSTA TEIXEIRA | Examinador Externo |
| VALDETE REGINA GUANDALINI | Examinador Interno |
Summary: Introduction: The diagnosis and treatment of ASD in children impose
stressors on caregivers, especially mothers, who generally assume the role
of primary caregiver. This maternal burden has been associated with
changes in eating behavior, such as emotional eating, and a negative body
image. Given that children mirror their parents' habits, maternal eating
behavior can influence the habits and behaviors of their children, contributing
to a pattern of food selectivity. Objective: To evaluate the factors associated
with body appreciation in mothers of autistic children, and to investigate
whether maternal eating behavior impacts the food selectivity of the child
with ASD. Method: The study included 143 participants residing in Espírito
Santo, Brazil, mothers of children with a medical diagnosis of ASD up to 11
years of age. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire
with self-administered instruments, containing sociodemographic, clinical,
lifestyle, nutritional status, body appreciation, self-compassion, and
emotional eating data of the mothers, in addition to sociodemographic and
clinical data of the child. Data were analyzed using JASP software, version
18.0. Results: 143 mothers participated in the study, 47.2% of whom were in
the 30-39 age group. Most lived with a partner, were of Black or Brown
race/color, had a higher education/postgraduate degree, were professionally
active, and reported an income of up to 2 minimum wages. Practicing
physical activity (p = 0.044), having a child with ASD older than 6 years (p =
0.016), and a higher self- compassion score ($p < 0.001$) were predictors
of higher body appreciation. On the other hand, higher Body Mass Index
(BMI) (p = 0.005) and a higher emotional eating score (p < 0.001) were
predictors of lower body appreciation. Mothers who reported following or
having followed a restrictive diet for weight loss were 3 times more likely (OR
= 3.052; p = 0.028) to have children with food selectivity. The mother having
studied up to higher education/postgraduate level acted as a protective
factor, reducing the chances of this behavior in the child by 72% (p = 0.040).
Conclusion: Maternal body appreciation is favored by physical activity and
self-compassion, and hindered by emotional eating and high BMI. The
mother's practice of restrictive dieting is directly associated with the
children's selectivity, and a higher educational level acted as a protective
factor, bringing new perspectives on the socioeconomic impact within the
context of ASD.
