Schizophrenia, obesity and pharmacotherapy-associated weight gain

Background. Obesity seems to be very frequent among schizophrenics, partly due to psychotropic medications. To examine this possibility the authors compared the distribution of Body Mass Index and of Abdominal Obesity among an outpatient sample of schizophrenics, comparing their data with those of the Italian population as a whole. Materials and Methods. Weight, height, BMI and waist circumference were evaluated in 126 schizophrenic spectrum outpatients (51 F; 75 M, mean age 43.7 +/- 13.3 yrs) receiving treatment in a university community mental health centre. Results. Mean BMI of the sample was 26.8 +/- 4.9,without any significant difference between genders (females = 25.9 +/- 4.9; males = 27.4 +/- 4.9). The prevalence of obesity (BMI 30) in the sample was 26.2%, 2.8 times higher that of Italian average (9.8%). 46.8% out of the patients was affected by abdominal obesity measuring waist circumference, a prevalence 1.7 times higher that of the Italian average (31%). Abdominal obesity was significantly more frequent among females (F = 60.5%; M = 37.3%, p < 0.05). 53% out of those patients who were under treatment with atypical antipsychotics respect to 25% of those who were not under treatment (p > 0.05) and 71% of those who were submitted to an association of typical and atypical antipsychotics respect to those patients who were not treated with this association (p < 0.05) were affected by abdominal obesity. Conclusions. Also in Italy schizophrenic were found more frequently obese than the corresponding general population. Female schizophrenics and patients who undergone treatment with atypical antipsychotics or with the association of typical and atypical antipsychotics were significantly more at risk for abdominal obesity. Clin Ter 2008; 159(5):299-306