IngentaConnect Patient and direct-care staff body mass index in a state mental h...

Authors: Vieweg W.V.R.; Thomas M.; Janisko M.; Booth M.; Fernandez A.; Pandurangi A.; Silverman J.J.

Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Volume 110, Number 1, July 2004 , pp. 69-72(4)

Abstract:

Vieweg WVR, Thomas M, Janisko M, Booth M, Fernandez A, Pandurangi A, Silverman JJ. Patient and direct-care staff body mass index in a state mental hospital: implications for management.

Acta Psychiatr Scand 2004: 110: 69–72. © Blackwell Munksgaard 2004. Objective:

Obesity is a major problem among chronically psychotic patients. Method:

We assessed body mass index (BMI) of chronically psychotic patients on admission to a state mental hospital and in follow-up. We also compared patient BMI to staff BMI. Results:

The initial patient BMI (26.4 ± 5.8 kg/m²) was in the overweight range. The patient BMI (29.1 ± 5.8 kg/m²) increased (P < 0.0001) on follow-up and almost reached the level of obesity. Staff BMI (35.1 ± 8.6 kg/m²) was in the obese range with 64.9% meeting criteria of obesity and 29.9% meeting criteria of morbid obesity. African-American women made up 84.5% of clinical-care staff and constitute the race–sex mix most vulnerable to obesity in the US. Morbid obesity (BMI

40 kg/m²) was five times more common among these African-American female clinical-care staff than among African-American women in the general US population. Conclusion:

Our findings may have treatment implications for chronically psychotic patients at risk for obesity.

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