Researchers say the risk of anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder, is higher for autistic girls than autistic boys. The team from Kings College London also suggests that many girls are more likely to have undiagnosed autism that may be mistaken for an eating disorder.
The study's findings reveal 4 and 52.5 per cent of anorexia patients meet a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Only 1 per cent have autism in the general population.
Some experts feel there is an underlying genetic vulnerability for autism and anorexia. Others believe when autism goes undetected in girls, they are more likely to develop mental health issues that include anorexia.
Professor Robyn Young at Flinders University, who investigated the link between female autism and eating disorders found girls with autism are better at “camouflage” than boys. However, this comes at a cost. “Girls learn ‘this is what I do to blend in, it’s not OK to be obsessed with this particular thing so maybe I’ll get obsessed with 5 Seconds of Summer instead’,” Young told a news portal. Adding, “It’s more functional, more mainstream, but women are saying ‘I don’t know who I am, I’ve been mimicking other people my whole life’."
Young also revealed just 5 per cent of teachers reported issues with girls on the autism spectrum. Even clinicians are sometimes unable to detect warning signs of autism in girls.
A news portal reported 25-year-old Fiona Evans (name changed) from the Newcastle-Hunter region who had such an experience. “In primary and high school I was a high achiever and did very well academically but I had problems with bullying and not fitting in socially,” Evans told a news portal. Adding, “I only found out there was such a thing as autism at age 18 and I was like ‘oh my God, this explains everything’.”
She revealed even health professionals misdiagnosed her condition and told her she was just “too self-aware”. It was only when she was at university that she developed anorexia because she “crashed and burned”.
She decided to seek help and checked in a psychiatric ward at a hospital. Despite revealing her suspicion that she may have autism, the psychiatrist said it was not possible because she was able to make eye contact. “It was a bit ridiculous because I’d trained myself to make eye contact,” Evans told a news portal. Adding, “Like a lot of girls on the spectrum, I’d learnt social skills by copying peers, reading books and watching movies.”
Evans was only diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, which is part of the autism spectrum, once she left that hospital. Even though the right treatment finally helped her recover, she feels getting diagnosed earlier in life with the condition could have helped greatly.
People on the autism spectrum tend to be picky eaters, avoid specific textures and tastes due to sensory sensitivity. Rigid thinking also causes them to impose random rules. Researchers say patients with autistic characteristics need treatment that is more intensive in order to tackle eating disorders.
The study's findings were published in theCurrent Psychiatry Reports.
