Mental disorders in obese patients with and without metabolic syndrome

Objective: The authors sought to evaluate lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in patients affected by metabolic syndrome compared with patients affected by central obesity alone. Methods: One hundred eighty-six (63.5%) patients affected by central obesity and 107 (36.5%) affected by metabolic syndrome according to ICF criteria were interviewed by means of SCID I and SCID II. Results: Axis I and axis II lifetime prevalence were respectively 53.8% and 30.1% among patients with central obesity, 50.5% and 28% among patients with metabolic syndrome, differences which were not significant. No statistically significant differences were found between groups as far as each single axis I and II diagnostic category was considered. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is not associated with a higher risk of mental disorders compared to central obesity alone.