title: Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Child's Weight-Related Behaviors: A Parents' Perspective.
abstract: To explore parent perspectives of how the attributes of their child's autism spectrum disorder(ASD) impact nutrition, physical activity, screen time behaviors and risk for obesity. Secondarily, we examined the parent's perception of the healthcare providers (HCP) influence on these weight-related behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted and audio-recorded telephone interviews with parents of children with ASD (n=8) using a structured question guide. Data were transcribed and thematic analysis was conducted. Issues surrounding weight-related behaviors and parental strategies used were reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two overarching themes with eight subthemes emerged: (1) Challenges related to features of ASD (subthemes included fixation on food, sensory issues/rigidity, developmental factors, impaired social skills, and medication effects) and (2) Challenges related to the care of children with ASD (subthemes included lack of individualized care planning, picking your battles and the impact of ASD on family).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies extracted from the parent narratives promoted both healthy and unhealthy weight-related behaviors. The key finding in this study is that some parents did not follow HCP guidance when they perceived that the HCP did not understand their particular situation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of healthy weight-related behaviors can be optimized when providers consider the child's challenging ASD behaviors, affirm the difficulties encountered by the family and provide guidance that builds on the individual child/family strengths.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee College of Nursing/Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. Electronic address: mpolfuss@uwm.edu.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polfuss
authors.affiliation: Marquette University College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI.
authors.forename: Norah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bonis
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hovis
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee College of Health Sciences, Milwaukee, WI.
authors.forename: Fallon
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Apollon
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee College of Nursing/Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
authors.forename: Kathleen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sawin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Nutrition; Obesity; Pediatric; Physical activity; Qualitative