Autism & eating disorders: could Alexythemia be the missing link?
autside.substack.com
Eating disorders are prevalent among autistics most likely due to our problems with interoception and anxiety; as a response, some autistic people engage in eating disorders as a way to cope. 70% of autistics have atypical eating behaviours, while up to 30% of us have an eating disorder.This is over 3 times the prevalence rate of the general population, which is 9%. We also are disproportionately represented in treatment centers, with up to 35% of people who are treated for an eating disorder being autistic. Until recently, it was unclear whether autistic traits resulted from eating disorders or preceded them. In a recent longitudinal study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, researchers found that autistic traits preceded eating disorders and may be a predictor of eating disorders in the future (source | source).
It is crucial to investigate how much alexithymia may contribute to these outcomes — rather than autism itself — since autistic individuals have high suicide rates and a greater risk of eating disorders. There is a possibility that these risks can be reduced with greater understanding / awareness of alexithymia and its connection to autism. You can find out more about alexythemia, as well as take a short survey to see if you might be alexythemic, by clicking here.
Autism & eating disorders: could Alexythemia be the missing link?
Autism & eating disorders: could Alexythemia be the missing link?
Autism & eating disorders: could Alexythemia be the missing link?
Eating disorders are prevalent among autistics most likely due to our problems with interoception and anxiety; as a response, some autistic people engage in eating disorders as a way to cope. 70% of autistics have atypical eating behaviours, while up to 30% of us have an eating disorder. This is over 3 times the prevalence rate of the general population, which is 9%. We also are disproportionately represented in treatment centers, with up to 35% of people who are treated for an eating disorder being autistic. Until recently, it was unclear whether autistic traits resulted from eating disorders or preceded them. In a recent longitudinal study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, researchers found that autistic traits preceded eating disorders and may be a predictor of eating disorders in the future (source | source).
It is crucial to investigate how much alexithymia may contribute to these outcomes — rather than autism itself — since autistic individuals have high suicide rates and a greater risk of eating disorders. There is a possibility that these risks can be reduced with greater understanding / awareness of alexithymia and its connection to autism. You can find out more about alexythemia, as well as take a short survey to see if you might be alexythemic, by clicking here.