Original Article

International Journal of Obesity (2006) 30, 1011–1016. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803222; published online 24 January 2006

Weight loss in overweight patients maintained on atypical antipsychotic agents

F Centorrino1,2, J J Wurtman1,3, K A Duca4, V H Fellman2, K V Fogarty2, J M Berry2, D M Guay2, M Romeling2, J Kidwell2, S L Cincotta1,2 and R J Baldessarini1,2

  1. 1Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
  2. 2Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
  3. 3Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
  4. 4Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA

Correspondence: Dr F Centorrino, Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478-9106, USA. E-mail: centorf@mcleanpo.mclean.org

Received 6 June 2005; Revised 7 November 2005; Accepted 25 November 2005; Published online 24 January 2006.

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Abstract

Background:

 

Weight gain and associated medical morbidity offset the reduction of extrapyramidal side effects associated with atypical antipsychotics. Efforts to control weight in antipsychotic-treated patients have yielded limited success.

Methods:

 

We studied the impact of an intensive 24-week program of diet, exercise, and counseling in 17 chronically psychotic patients (10 women, seven men) who entered at high average body weight (105.0plusminus18.4 kg) and body mass index (BMI) (36.6plusminus4.6 kg/m2). A total of 12 subjects who completed the initial 24 weeks elected to participate in an additional 24-week, less intensive extension phase.

Results:

 

By 24 weeks, weight-loss/patient averaged 6.0 kg (5.7%) and BMI decreased to 34.5 (by 5.7%). Blood pressure decreased from 130/83 to 116/74 (11% improvement), pulse fell slightly, and serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations changed nonsignificantly. With less intensive management for another 24 weeks, subjects regained minimal weight (0.43 kg).

Conclusions:

 

These findings add to the emerging view that weight gain is a major health problem associated with modern antipsychotic drugs and that labor-intensive weight-control efforts in patients requiring antipsychotic treatment yield clinically promising benefits. Improved treatments without weight-gain risk are needed.

Keywords:

antipsychotic, conditioning diet, exercise, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, weight loss

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