Autism & eating a lot: why it happens & what to do

Autism and eating a lot: what you need to know

It’s common for autistic children and teenagers to eat a lot. Some graze all day, some eat big meals, and some do both.

If you’re worried that your child is eating a lot, overeating or seems to be hungry all the time, it’s good to work out why. This can help you guide your child towards healthy eating habits.

Why do some autistic children and teenagers eat a lot?

Medicine

Some autistic kids and teens eat a lot because their medicine increases their appetite. Your child’s GP or paediatrician will be able to tell you if this is an issue for your child.

If there are no medical reasons for your child’s eating behaviour, your autistic child might be eating a lot for some of the following reasons.

Habit

If your child seems to snack a lot at particular times of the day, while watching TV or using the computer, or when they don’t have anything else to do, eating might have become a habit. Keeping a diary for a few days will help you see whether there’s a pattern to your child’s snacking.

Unpredictable mealtimes

Snacking a lot throughout the day might happen because your child doesn’t have set mealtimes.

Sensory sensitivities

If your child seeks out sensory sensations, they might eat a lot of a particular food because they like the feeling of it in their mouth.

Emotional regulation

If your child eats more food when they’re feeling anxious or sad, this might be because eating helps them feel better or eating a favourite food comforts or calms them.

Body cues

If your child eats so much that they start feeling sick or even vomiting, it might be because your child doesn’t realise that they’re full. And this might be because your child doesn’t recognise and understand their body’s cues.

How to know when your child is eating more than is healthy

If you’re worried that your child’s eating is unhealthy, our dietary guidelines can help. You can use them to work out whether your child is eating an appropriate amount from each of the 5 healthy food groups each day:

What to do if your autistic child is eating more than is healthy

Here are ideas to support your child if they’re eating more than is healthy for them.

Guide your child towards healthier habits

These tips might help if eating a lot has become a habit for your child:

Think about where you keep snacks. If you store food in places that are harder for your child to get to, it might encourage your child to be conscious of their eating choices.
Encourage your child to do physical activity. You could try making this part of your child’s daily routine, perhaps at a time of day when your child might otherwise want to snack.
Make sure that your child drinks plenty of water throughout the day, especially between mealtimes. Sometimes children think they’re hungry when they’re thirsty.

Aim for regular mealtimes

These tips might help your child get into a regular mealtime routine, which can reduce snacking between meals:

Make regular meals and snacks part of your family’s daily routine. This can help your child get used to eating certain quantities of food at certain times. You could use a visual schedule to help your child understand the routine.
Have low-fat, low-energy snacks handy while your child is getting used to the new mealtime routine. This will help your child feel neither too hungry nor too full at the next meal.
Have some of your child’s favourite activities handy to keep your child busy until it’s time for a regular meal or snack. This can be good if your child snacks when they’re bored.

Sensory sensitivities

If your child seeks out sensory sensations, try to replace the sensory food object with a non-food object. For example, if your child likes the feeling of soft substances in their mouth, you could make time each day for your child to play with playdough with their hands or use a soft chew toy.

Work on your child’s emotional regulation

If you think your child eats as a way of regulating their emotions, help your child learn how to recognise, understand and manage their emotions. This might include doing physical activity or using wellbeing strategies like breathing exercises or muscle relaxation techniques.

Help your child learn about body cues

These tips can help if your child doesn’t seem to recognise when their body tells them they’re full:

Talk with your child about how their tummy might feel when they’re very full.
Prompt your child to take a break from eating. You could tell your child you’ll keep their food in the fridge. If they’re still hungry, they can eat it later.

Where to get help with your autistic child’s eating

If you’re concerned about your child’s weight or eating behaviour, it’s a good idea to talk with your child’s GP or paediatrician or a dietitian. They can also refer your child to other professionals like psychologists if your child needs extra help with their behaviour or emotions.

Our articles childhood overweight and obesity or teenage overweight and obesity have more information.