Autism and stomach issues
Stomach issues are EXTREMELY common in autistic people.
Some studies have found that up to 91% of autistic people have stomach issues (like constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain).
And while not all studies reported as high a prevalence as 91%, research HAS consistently shown significantly higher rates of stomach related issues in autistic individuals as compared to nonautistic individuals.
Here are some stats that I found particularly noteworthy from a comprehensive meta analysis conducted in 2014.
Autistic people are...
- 4.4x more likely to experience general GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms
- 3.6x more likely to experience constipation
- 3.1x more likely to experience diarrhea
- 2.7x more likely to experience abdominal pain
And one study from 2022 found that ~55% of autistic people experience at least one GI symptom as compared to only 20-25% of the general population.
And studies have even found a strong correlation between GI issues in autistic children and increased irritability, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.
Personally, I've had stomach issues most of my life, including IBS and candidiasis... both of which I suffered from for years. And they have absolutely increased my irritability, anxiety, and sleep issues.
If you're autistic or have an autistic child... I hope you found this as interesting as I did. And if you feel comfortable sharing, I'd be interested to know if stomach issues have come up for you as well.
Reference links…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9003052/