Heavy risks: Autistic children with severe features are at an increased risk of obesity. (Rostislav Sedlacek / iStock)

A study published in the journal Autism found that of US youth age 10-17 with autism spectrum disorder, 19.4% were overweight and 23.05% were obese. These rates are higher than those of neurotypical youth, whose rates of overweight and obesity were 14.9% and 15.91%, respectively. The greatest risk of obesity was found in youth with severe autism spectrum disorder.