Abstract

JOFFRE-VELAZQUEZ, Víctor Manuel; GARCIA-MALDONADO, Gerardo; SALDIVAR-GONZALEZ, Atenógenes H  and  MARTINEZ-PERALES, Gerardo. Systematic Review of the Association between Overweight, Obesity and Mental Illness with Emphasis on the Schizophrenic Disorder. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2009, vol.38, n.4, pp.705-716. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: The World Health Organization has defined obesity and overweight as "cumulative excess body fat, which is presented by an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure", and the American Psychiatric Association declares that it may also affect the psychic apparatus. Objective: To describe some generalities related to obesity and overweight and to review the partnership that exists between these circumstances and mental illness in general and schizophrenia in particular, as well as the influence of the administration of atypical antipsychotics on the body weight of these patients. Method: A search of electronic databases (Pubmed, EBSCOhost, and OvidSP) was conducted, focusing on papers published in the last decade with strict scientific methodology. Results: Incidence of overweight and obesity is higher in people with mental illness in general and schizophrenia in particular compared to the general population, and risk factors such as genetic polymorphisms, use of atypical antipsychotics, and a poor diet are identified. Conclusion: Obesity is a major public health problem in several countries, including Mexico. Patients with psychiatric disorders have a tendency to develop overweight or obesity.

Keywords : Overweight; obesity; schizophrenia; mental disorders.

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