Behavior and Psychology
Obesity (2008) 16 4, 749–754. doi:10.1038/oby.2007.133
Impact of Obesity on Health-related Quality of Life in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Ronette L. Kolotkin1,2, Patricia K. Corey-Lisle3, Ross D. Crosby4,5, Jodi M. Swanson4, Anne V. Tuomari3, Gilbert J. L'Italien3 and James E. Mitchell5,6
- 1Obesity and Quality of Life Consulting, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- 2Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- 3Global Epidemiology and Outcomes Research, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Wallingford, Connecticut, USA
- 4Biomedical Statistics, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
- 5Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
- 6Clinical Research, Neuropsychiatirc Research Institute, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
Correspondence: Ronette L. Kolotkin (rkolotkin@qualityoflifeconsulting.com)
Received 25 March 2007; Accepted 11 August 2007; Published online 24 January 2008.
Abstract
Objective:
Studies have reported that up to 60% of individuals with schizophrenia and 68% of those with bipolar disorder are overweight/obese. This paper explores the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder as a function of obesity status.
Methods and Procedures:
Two hundred and eleven participants were recruited from four psychiatric programs (outpatient, day treatment, case management, and psychosocial rehabilitation). HRQOL was assessed using both a general measure (Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36 (SF-36)) and a weight-related measure (Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite)). To interpret HRQOL scores obtained by the obese group, we compared scores to those obtained by reference groups from the weight-loss literature.
Results:
Sixty-three percent of participants with schizophrenia and 68% of those with bipolar disorder were obese. Obese participants were more likely to be women, on mood stabilizers, taking a greater number of psychiatric medications, and to have poorer weight-related and general HRQOL. Weight-related HRQOL in the obese psychiatric sample was more impaired than in outpatient and day treatment samples seeking weight loss but less impaired than in gastric-bypass patients. Several of the physical domains of general HRQOL were more impaired for the obese psychiatric sample than for the outpatient weight-loss sample. However, physical functioning was less impaired for the obese psychiatric sample than for gastric-bypass patients.
Discussion:
The presence of obesity among individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is associated with decreased HRQOL. These results have implications for prevention and management of weight gain in individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
