A YouTube-Delivered Curriculum for Parents of Children With Autism and Weight Issues Improves Parental Nutrition Knowledge

Objectives: In the USA, one in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and they have a 58% increased risk of obesity. Children with ASD often exhibit problem eating behaviors such as food selectivity, and parents have an important role to play in shaping their child's eating habits. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a YouTube curriculum on 1) increasing parental self-efficacy 2) increasing parents' nutrition knowledge 3) improving child's mealtime behaviors and overall diet quality. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted among parents of children with autism and overweight/obesity between 6-11 years. Parents completed surveys at three-time points: baseline, 4 weeks, and 8-week followup. These surveys included a) Parental self-efficacy, Parental nutrition knowledge, and the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) questionnaire. Participants completed a satisfaction survey at the end of the study. Participants in the intervention group received an evidence-based YouTube curriculum for 8-weeks, while the control group received no instruction. Wilcoxon signed-ranked tests were used to compare means between groups at three timepoints. Results: Of 18 participants recruited, 16 were randomized; 15 completed the study (n=10 intervention; n=5 control). Participants were predominantly female (80%); 46.7% were Hispanic, and average age was 41.5 ± 6.1 years. The intervention group improved parental self-efficacy scores (p=0.050) from baseline to mid-point and nutrition knowledge (p = 0.046) from baseline to post intervention. No significant difference was observed in the BAMBI, nutrient intake or the Healthy-Eating Index scores post-intervention. Analysis of the satisfaction survey revealed that parents found the YouTube curriculum easy to follow, and effective in encouraging positive eating behaviors in their child with ASD. Conclusions: A short, YouTube based intervention shows promise in improving parent nutrition knowledge and feeding self-efficacy in parents of children with autism. However, the lack of improvement in BAMBI scores, nutrient intake, or Healthy Eating Index scores indicates a need for longer and larger intervention studies. Funding Sources: Woodcock Institute for the Advancement of Neurocognitive Research and Applied Practice.