Weight and Height Questionnaire

Date Last Updated: August 24, 2009

Viewing the Questionnaire and Current Results

To view this questionnaire and the current results, visit IAN Data Explorer. It is an interactive tool that allows you to look at how IAN Research participants have responded to individual questions on the IAN Research questionnaires. It displays charts and graphs based on current IAN Research data and is similar to interactive tools that show current stock values. The charts and graphs show responses to individual questions and do not attempt to summarize data on complex issues. Online help on IAN Data Explorer is also available.

To learn more about the results of the Weight and Height Questionnaire, see IAN Research Report #4.

Background

From October 22 - November 21, 2007, families responded to this initial Weight and Height Questionnaire. (It has been closed, but may be reactivated in the future so that IAN can track children's growth over time.)

Very little information is available about the growth of children with ASD. Recent studies in Europe have found that boys with autism are more likely to be underweight than their peers. In contrast, a US study conducted in 2005 reported no concerns about children with ASD being underweight, but instead found that children with ASD are just as likely to be overweight as their peers.

There are many factors that influence a child's weight, including genetics, individual eating habits, family eating habits, family attitudes about weight, and activity level.

Children with an ASD have additional behaviors, therapies, and possibly physiological abnormalities that further influence body size. We are interested in whether these additional factors have a measurable effect on the growth of children with an ASD.

This questionnaire is intended to obtain basic information about the growth of children with ASD and the growth of their siblings. We are collecting data on all children 2 years and older. By collecting information about siblings, we will also be able to make certain comparisons about the growth of children with an ASD compared to those without an ASD. We will also be able to compare weight and height information to other national databases that collect this same information.

In the future, we plan to ask additional questions about nutrition, physical activity, feeding/eating problems, and gastrointestinal problems. Thank you for providing information about your child.