Double Trouble--Eating problems

I'm hoping someone else has experience with this situation. I have three kids on the spectrum; two with the diagnosis of Autism, and it's those two I'm worried about.

Five year old had to be taken off of Risperdal because of weight gain issues. Since then his weight has stablizied, but we have to be very careful about food with him. Getting locks for fridge and cupboards.

Seven year old, on the other hand has always been on the slim side. His appetite has been gradually diminishing for the last few weeks to where he hardly eats anything. Even some of his favorite foods. I'll be talking to the school staff about how he does with lunch, and I'm trying to make sure he has access to high-calorie foods that are fairly good for him. He's on Risperdal and never got the weight gain as a side effect.

So how do I hold one kid back, while plumping up another? If you've got any hints for me, please share.

Hi ASDtrifecta, and welcome to IAN.

Having one child who won't eat enough, and one who won't stop eating, sounds like a terribly difficult situation. I was wondering if you've asked your pediatrician if he or she could refer you to someone expert in working with children with eating problems? This might be someone with expertise in nutrition, behavior modification, or both. (Of course, the more expert they are at working with children on the autism spectrum, the better.)

As you may have read in our discussion forum on weight issues, there are many children on the spectrum who are extremely picky, and many others who are very compulsive eaters. To have to cope with one of each at the same time must be extremely challenging.

Have any of our other readers had to cope with this situation? What did you do?

Connie (IAN Staff) wrote:

Hi ASDtrifecta, and welcome to IAN.

Having one child who won't eat enough, and one who won't stop eating, sounds like a terribly difficult situation. I was wondering if you've asked your pediatrician if he or she could refer you to someone expert in working with children with eating issues? This might be someone with expertise in nutrition, behavior modification, or both. (Of course, the more expert they are at working with children on the autism spectrum, the better.)

If your pediatrician is at a loss, you may also want to ask local autism advocacy organizations if they have any information about potentially helpful professionals in your area. Since eating issues are common, these may have been addressed many times before by families that have walked this road before you. For example, you might contact the Autism Speaks "Autism Response Team": http://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/family_services_docs/FS_Overview.pdf

Or you could contact your local chapter of the Autism Society of America: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=community_chapters

As you may have read in our discussion forum on weight issues, there are many children on the spectrum who are extremely picky, and many others who are very compulsive eaters. To have to cope with one of each at the same time must be extremely challenging.

Have any of our other readers had to cope with this situation? What did you do?