Feasibility of a Virtual Nutrition Intervention for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at an increased risk of obesity and unhealthy eating behaviors. This study examined the feasibility of a virtual implementation of a nutrition intervention for adolescents with ASD, as well as feasibility of virtually assessing outcome measures, including anthropometric measures, dietary intake, and psychosocial determinants of dietary intake. Methods BALANCE (Bringing Adolescent Learners with Autism Nutrition and Culinary Education) is an 8-week theory-driven nutrition intervention for adolescents with ASD. The intervention is based on Social Cognitive Theory. Six groups of adolescents (n = 27; group size ranged 2–7) participated in the intervention and pre-/post-intervention assessments. Fidelity checklists included measures on attendance, participation, homework, fidelity, and technical difficulties. Feasibility of assessing outcome measures, including the Block Kids Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), a validated psychosocial survey, and height and weight, was evaluated on response rate, completion, and data quality. Results Mean lesson attendance was 88%, participation was 3.5 of 4, homework completion was 51.9%, fidelity was 98.9%, and prevalence of technical difficulties was 0.4 of 2 (no technical difficulties or minor difficulties for all lessons). Baseline response rate was 100% for all outcome measures, with 100% completion for the FFQ and 98.9% for the psychosocial survey. Post-intervention response rate was 92.6% for the FFQ and 96.3% for the psychosocial survey and anthropometric measures, with 100% completion for the FFQ and 99.5% for the psychosocial survey. Data quality was high for 88% of the matched FFQs and 100% of the psychosocial surveys. Conclusions Findings of the study suggest that a virtual implementation and evaluation of BALANCE was feasible, indicating that BALANCE may be implemented in virtual settings to reach diverse populations of adolescents with ASD. Future research is warranted to examine the impact of BALANCE on dietary behavior changes and obesity outcomes. Funding Sources This work was funded by the University of South Florida College of Public Health Internal Grant & Student Research Scholarship.