RISK OF OBESITY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in communication, social interaction, and behavior, often associated with metabolic comorbidities such as overweight and obesity. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the risk of obesity in individuals with ASD, identifying the main associated factors described in the scientific literature. This is an Integrative Literature Review with a qualitative approach, conducted in the PUBMED, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and Periodic CAPES databases, using the descriptors “Autism Spectrum Disorder,” “Obesity,” and “Risk Factors,” combined with the Boolean operator AND. Articles published between 2016 and 2026, available in full text, free of charge, and written in English were included, resulting in a final sample of 15 studies. The results showed that obesity in individuals with ASD has a multifactorial nature, involving behavioral, biological, clinical, and social factors. The main findings included food selectivity, inadequate eating patterns, sedentary lifestyle, use of psychotropic medications, metabolic alterations, family-related factors, and social determinants of health. It is concluded that individuals with ASD are more vulnerable to excess weight, reinforcing the need for multidisciplinary and individualized approaches focused on the prevention, monitoring, and management of obesity in this population.