Obesity is associated with a plethora of problems, but it is also associated with severe micronutrient deficiencies, including vitamin D. A paper I published in 2014 explains a mechanism by which vitamin D affects serotonin and makes a case for how this might be able to affect autism since normal fetal brain development requires serotonin. Here is the link to press release on my study: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/%E2%80%A6/140226110836.htm