ALIMENTACIÓN SELECTIVA EN EL TRASTORNO DEL ESPECTRO AUTISTA: UN ESTUDIO MULTICÉNTRICO SOBRE PATRONES, FACTORES ASOCIADOS Y ENFOQUES TERAPÉUTICOS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev8n1-006Palabras clave:
Trastorno del Espectro Autista, Alimentación Selectiva, Pediatría, Niños, AdolescentesResumen
Introducción: El Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA) es un trastorno del neurodesarrollo que se caracteriza por dificultades en la interacción social, la comunicación y conductas repetitivas, con causas genéticas y ambientales. Entre las diversas conductas de las personas con TEA, destaca la alimentación selectiva, relacionada con estereotipos y limitaciones en la interacción social. Objetivo: Analizar los patrones de alimentación selectiva, las restricciones dietéticas y los aspectos emocionales y familiares relacionados con los hábitos alimentarios de niños y adolescentes con TEA. Metodología: Estudio observacional, transversal y con enfoque cuantitativo, realizado mediante la aplicación de cuestionarios estructurados a cuidadores de niños y adolescentes con diagnóstico de TEA que asisten a instituciones especializadas. El análisis estadístico incluyó pruebas multivariadas para identificar asociaciones significativas entre variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y conductuales. Resultados: Participaron en el estudio 402 cuidadores. La prevalencia de alimentación selectiva fue alta (67,91%), con preferencia por alimentos ricos en carbohidratos y proteínas. La presencia de apoyo profesional, especialmente de nutricionistas y logopedas, mostró una asociación estadísticamente significativa con la reducción de las conductas alimentarias restrictivas. Los reportes frecuentes incluyeron dificultades durante las comidas y efectos negativos en el bienestar emocional de los cuidadores y familiares. Conclusión: Los hallazgos refuerzan la importancia de las intervenciones interdisciplinarias e individualizadas en el manejo de la alimentación selectiva en personas con TEA, integrando apoyo nutricional, logopedia y apoyo psicosocial. El estudio contribuye a ampliar el conocimiento sobre los desafíos alimentarios en esta población y brinda apoyo para la mejora de las políticas públicas y las prácticas de atención orientadas a la atención integral.
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