Table 2.
Summary of studies included in the review
| Author | Country | Study design | Ages, years | Sample (ASD/controls) | Gender % male (ASD/controls) | Characteristics of control group | Obesity definition | ASD diagnosis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnhill et al. [58] | USA | Cross-sectional case-control study | 2–13 | 86/57 | 92%/82% | Healthy controls | ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts | Before the study by trained clinicians and confirmed by psychologist. DSM-IV and 5 |
|
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| de Hoogd et al. [43] | The Netherlands | Retrospective chart review | 4–18 | 256/336 | 85.9%/80.1 % | Psychiatric controls | ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts | Clinical assessment based on DSM-IV-TR by treating physician |
|
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| Evans et al. [23] | USA | Cross-sectional study | 3–11 | 53/58 | 83%/78% | Healthy controls | ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts | Confirmed by autism diagnostic interveiew − revised |
|
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| Esteban-Figuerola et al. [42] | Spain | Epidemologic | 3–12 | 79/350 | 83.5% in ASD | Healthy controls | ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts | Confirmed by DSM-V, ADOS-2 and ADI-R |
|
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| Healy et al. [45] | Ireland | Cross-sectional study | 13 | 67/74 | 79.1%/52.7% | Healthy controls | Standardized by age and sex by international obesity task force, based on estimated BMI at age 18 | Diagnosis reported by primary caregiver |
|
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| Hill et al. [48] | USA and Canada | Cross-sectional study | 2–17 | 5,053/8,844 | 84.5% in ASD | Healthy controls from NHANES | ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts | Confirmed by DSM-IV, and ADOS |
|
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| Hyman et al. [49] | USA and Canada | Cross-sectional study | 2–11 | 362/559 | 86% in ASD | Healthy controls from NHANES | ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts | Confirmed by DSM-IV and ADOS |
|
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| Ptomey et al. [44] | USA | Retrospective database study | 2–18 | 1,073/274 | 80.8% in ASD | Controls diagnosed with IDD or Down's syndrome | ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts | Diagnosis reported by primary caregiver |
|
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| Shedlock et al. [40] | USA | Retrospective case-control study | 2–18 | 48,762/243,810 | 80%/80% | Healthy controls | ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts | ICD-9 codes at 2 separate encounters |
Weight and height were clinically measured. NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; ADOS, autism diagnostic obeservation schedule.