Table 3.
Baseline Demographic Characteristics for Young People Who Participated in the 8-wk BALANCE Virtual Nutrition Education Program (n = 27) and Their Parents
| Characteristics | Description, n (%) |
|---|---|
| Age, ya | 15.0 (13.0–16.0) |
| Gender | |
| Male | 20 (74) |
| Female | 7 (26) |
| Race/ethnicity | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4 (15) |
| Asian | 1 (4) |
| Black or African American | 2 (7) |
| White | 17 (63) |
| Other | 3 (11) |
| Baseline BMI category | |
| Obesity | 5 (19) |
| Overweight | 3 (12) |
| Healthy weight | 16 (62) |
| Underweight | 2 (8) |
| Baseline BMI z-scorea | |
| BMI z-score | 0.07 (−0.5 to 1.4) |
| Symptoms of autism spectrum disordera,b | |
| Language levelc (1–5) | 5.0 (0.2) |
| Social communication: qualityd (1–4) | 3.3 (3.0, 3.7) |
| Social communication: frequencye (1–4) | 2.7 (2.3, 3.3) |
| Restrictive behaviors: frequencye (1–4) | 2.0 (1.7, 2.6) |
| Mood and anxiety: frequencye (1–4) | 2.6 (2.0, 3.0) |
| Self-regulation: frequencye (1–4) | 2.0 (1.7, 2.7) |
| Challenging behavior: frequencye (1–4) | 2.0 (1.0, 2.3) |
| School type | |
| Public | 7 (26) |
| Private | 3 (11) |
| Homeschool | 12 (44) |
| Other | 4 (15) |
| Graduated | 1 (4) |
| Other diagnoses | |
| Sensory processing disorder | 11 (41) |
| Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder | 21 (78) |
| Obsessive compulsive disorder | 2 (7) |
| Sleep disorder | 6 (22) |
| Otherf | 15 (56) |
| Food allergies or intolerances | |
| Yes | 10 (37) |
| No | 17 (63) |
| Hours of sleep per nighta | 8.5 (8.0, 9.0) |
| No. of children in householda | 2 (1,3) |
| No. of individuals in householda | 4 (3, 5) |
| Household income | |
| < $20,000 | 2 (7) |
| $20,000–$34,999 | 1 (4) |
| $35,000–$49,999 | 3 (11) |
| $50,000–$74,999 | 8 (30) |
| $75,000–$99,999 | 4 (15) |
| > $100,000 | 9 (33) |
| Parent agea | 48.5 (46.0,54.0) |
| Parent gender | |
| Female | 27 (100) |
| Parent race/ethnicity | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4 (15) |
| Black or African American | 2 (7) |
| White | 19 (70) |
| Other | 1 (4) |
| No response | 1 (4) |
| Parent marital status | |
| Married | 20 (74) |
| Widowed | 1 (4) |
| Divorced or separated | 6 (22) |
| Parent highest education completed | |
| Some college | 4 (15) |
| Associate’s degree | 5 (19) |
| Bachelor’s degree | 7 (26) |
| Graduate degree | 10 (37) |
| Other | 1 (4) |
BALANCE indicates Bringing Adolescent Learners with Autism Nutrition and Culinary Education; BMI, body mass index.
Results represent median and interquartile range;
Based on responses from the Autism Behavior Inventory–Short Form;
Response options: no language, signs, single words or 2–3 word utterances, simple sentences, or full sentences;
Response options: not at all, with support, with some reminders, or without help;
Response options: never, sometimes, often, or very often;
Responses included: anxiety, auditory processing disorder, learning disabilities (dysgraphia, dyslexia, and nonverbal learning disability), cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, executive function disorder, epilepsy, periventricular leukomalacia, microcephaly, sleep apnea, progressive infantile idiopathic scoliosis, cardiac premature ventricular contractions, migraines, thyroid issues, apraxia, and failure to thrive.