I know exercise is important. But with all our autism-related
therapies, there’s no energy left. Advice appreciated. As
challenging as it may be for anyone to develop and maintain a
physically active lifestyle, the challenges can be amplified for
individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We are
constantly reminded how important it is to teach our kids to
make healthy life decisions. But sometimes it can feel like an
impossible task when they have other special needs and
obstacles. So it may be no surprise to learn that nearly a third
of children with ASD are medically obese. The problem appears to
increase with age, with obesity affecting over a third of young
adults on the spectrum. Inadequate physical activity is among
the primary reasons for these high rates of obesity. But let’s
be honest, getting active can be particularly challenging when a
child or adult is also struggling with autism-related issues in
areas such as self-control, motivation or physical coordination.
And the sights, sounds and ta