High
prevalence of obesity in patients with bipolar I
disorder
The
prevalence of obesity is increasing and
represents a major public health concern,
particularly in the United States. A tendency
for patients suffering from bipolar disorder to
be overweight has been noticed.
A retrospective report examined the prevalence
of overweight (body mass index (BMI) = 25.0 -
29.9) and obesity (BMI = or > 30.0) in 50
patients with bipolar disorder (according to
DSM-IV), and assessed weight change during acute
treatment and the first 12 months of maintenance
therapy.
At baseline, 34 of the 50 patients were obese or
overweight. Sixteen subjects were obese, 18 were
overweight, 15 were normal weight, and 1 was
underweight. Being overweight or obese at study
entry appeared to be linked with the number of
previous depressive episodes. Significant weight
gain occurred in the normal weight and
overweight groups during acute treatment,
whereas only the normal-weight group gained a
significant amount of weight during maintenance
treatment. During acute treatment, the increase
of BMI was positively associated with the score
on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and
negatively associated with the score on the
Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale. During both acute
and maintenance treatment there was a negative
relationship between BMI and the tendency to
gain weight.
In view of the high prevalence of obesity in
patients with bipolar disorder, specific
strategies of treatment and for weight control
are highly recommended. The link between
depressive episodes and weight gain, and the
minimal weight gain during the maintenance phase
which may facilitate the acceptance for loosing
weight, should favour the practice of
maintenance therapy. J
Clin Psychiat 63: 528-533, 2002