Anyone heard of the link between anorexia and AS?

pastalady

I know a weird question! DD has ASD and my DH has aspergers. It's my Dh I am worried about right now. He is so tunnel visioned. Lately it's been diet. He listened to a diet book on audiotape. He tends to believe 100% in anything he reads, listens to, etc. So he has given up all wheat, starches, sugar etc. It's gotten to a point where he refuses salad dressings because it has corn syrup in it. So dry lettuce was his supper last night. He bragged how stuffed he was after his lunch of a broccoli head.

He is losing about 5-7 pounds a week. He is getting compliments. He used to have the typical beer gut, maybe 20 pounds over weight. I am getting worried. If I thought he would stop at a goal weight, fine but he says he will eat like this forever now. And I feel pressured to eat like him. I did lose about 11 pounds by giving up wheat. But I want to be able to eat a piece of cake without him lecturing me.

So, my concern is because of his AS he will keep going with this. I have found articles calling anorexia the female AS (which I know isn't true as lots of girls have AS) but there seems to be a correlation between rigidity in thought typical of AS and eating disorders.

Anyone have any advice? Should I try to get him to read some other nutrition books? I am hoping that could help.

pastalady

I should add my concern is really how hardcore he is with this diet. He doesn't do things unless they are obsessive. For example last year he wrote a 12 piece snare drum piece. He had to learn orchastration and all about the snare drum first. He would be up until 4 am doing this. The diet is the same for him. It's an obsession. All free time is spent researching nutrition and calorie output. He also has been getting on the exercise bike as soon as DD goes to bed at 8pm. He stays on it until about 12, so 4 hours a night, every night.

rakle99

I haven't heard of a link, but I will tell you his behavior is showing he is creating some very bad habits. You may want to talk to him about going to a nutritionist about his new 'lifestyle'. Make sure you go with him and highlight your concerns. 

As far as his obsessions are concerned, my experience is that this is normal with Asperger's. Even as an adult he can work on this with a therapist to help him recognize when he's being obsessive vs. passionate and to help you help him regulate that. Either way I think professionals getting involved would be the way to go. Good luck!