Do you have low muscle mass or are you petite? (survey)

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I graduated from high school under a 100 lbs. I learned not to get on a scale in front of women. I also avoided the high school weight room because of the ridicule.

I'm 5 feet tall and about 250 pounds.

I was trying to gain weight... So maybe I'll try a bit later in life.

I weighed no more than seven stone and was a dazed scarecrow until I hit my early 20's cause I never knew anything about nutrition and fitness, I try to maintain a decent weight as I slowly improve my exercise and eating regime but hope to put on a couple stone more muscle when I feel ready to make the next step, I have no idea what muscle mass I am but 'no longer a dazed scarecrow' is a good description

As one can see, autistic people come in all shapes and sizes.

So, I'm a bit confused.
Based on your hypothesized HGH mechanism, do you predict that autistic people will have less muscle, or be overall smaller? Both? Because % muscle is largely dependent on body fat, which can be affected by a lot of other lifestyle choices and genetic factors as well.

I am borderline on the spectrum and I was below normal weight most of my childhood. In the past 15 or so years (since I started secondary school) I have been doing a lot more physical activity though, so now I am up to a low but normal BMI. At 5'4" I'm 8.2 stone, and am lean but all muscle. Though I'm female, I have a clearly cut 6 pack, solid forearms, etc. It's hard to buy pants that fit my muscular thighs, I hulk out of ladies' shirts with cap sleeves, etc. I'm actually also on a low-protein diet (for unrelated health reasons), so I doubt this is due to overabundance of supplementing. The exercise I do is mostly just riding a bike to and from home and martial arts, so most days it's not that intense. I think I'm just naturally thin but muscular.

So... do I fit your prediction??? I'm guessing not.

LOL...You're about a "normal" weight for a 5 foot 4 woman--plus you have muscle!

No, that's not a misprint. I have a narrow frame and really long legs. According to my body mass index, I am considered underweight, but I feel comfortable, and it hasn't been a problem for me. I do eat a normal healthy diet, but I just can't seem to gain weight easily.

I've gained plenty of muscle mass in my youth when I worked physically demanding jobs. I'm 6'5" and 175-180lb. I've never been "big" though, more strong and lean. Having a big gut in your old age can be quite risky and unpleasant.

Haha, it really seems so, doesn't it?


You know it!

Although, from an artist's perspective, the variety of body sizes and shapes in this world really do make things more beautiful. My body may be close to current ideal standards, but I actually don't feel like I can relate to body builder / sporting type folks, as I don't engage in that lifestyle or prioritize my body's physical appearance in my sense of myself.

here you are. some non-nonsense for you.
Decreased tryptophan metabolism in patients with autism spectrum disorders.

I don't think research studies reflect what is true about autistic people.

Just look at the pictures here on WP. See how many people are "petite" or have "low muscle mass."

Thanks for the link to a study that says "87 patients with ASD as a clinical feature, as compared to the 78 controls, exhibited on average reduced generation of NADH when tryptophan was the sole energy source". Could you now show us the evidence that says "Autistics can't utilize Tryptophan"?

I'm so weak physically, I seem to lack muscles altogether. >.<

I have been called petit before. I'm 93 pounds, just a bit underweight.