Are females at special risk of obesity if they become psychotic? The longitudinal Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study

• Published in: Schizophrenia research Vol. 84; no. 1; pp. 15 - 19
• Main Authors: Hakko, Helinä, Komulainen, M. Tuomas, Koponen, Hannu, Saari, Kaisa, Laitinen, Jaana, Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta, Lindeman, Sari
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Catchment Area (Health); Cohort Studies; Cohort study; Demography; Feeding Behavior; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Follow-Up Studies; Health Status; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medical sciences; Motor Activity; Obesity; Obesity - diagnosis; Obesity - epidemiology; Prevalence; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychoses; Psychotic disorder; Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis; Psychotic Disorders - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - epidemiology; Smoking - epidemiology; Weight Gain; Europe; Finland; Psychotic disorder; Schizophrenia; Obesity; Weight gain; Cohort study; Human; Psychosis; Follow up study; Nutrition disorder; Risk factor; Female; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0920-9964; 1573-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2006.03.020

Obesity is a serious health problem, especially in patients with long-term mental disorders. We explored the socio-demographic, psychiatric, and clinical factors that increase the risk of changing from under- or normal weight in adolescence to overweight/obese in adulthood. We found a 3.6-fold risk of weight gain in females with psychotic disorder. Other significant correlates of weight gain in males were physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, high alcohol consumption, and being single; and in females, chronic diseases, physical inactivity, high alcohol consumption, and having at least three children. These findings emphasize the importance of regular weight monitoring in clinical practice, especially in females with psychotic disorders.