What is the effect of obesity in schizophrenic patients?
Ravi Singareddy, MD
Assistant Professor,
Sleep Research & Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry,
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine,
USA
Assistant Professor,
Sleep Research & Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry,
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine,
USA
Q: How to manage excess eating in a schizophrenic patients? What will be the effect of obesity in such patients?
A:There is a high incidence of obesity in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorders - In addition, several medications used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can lead to increase in appetite and weight gain. So if someone with schizophrenia is eating excessively, they are likely to gain weight. Obesity/weight gain can lead to significant cardiovascular, metabolic, and other medical complications.