A study examined the impact of obesity on patients with bipolar I disorder (BDI) using data from the 2016 and 2020 US National Health and Wellness Survey. The retrospective, cross-sectional analysis involved 1,853 participants categorized based on their BMI into underweight/normal, overweight, and obese groups. The study found that participants who were obese had higher rates of high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and other comorbidities like asthma, cancer, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea. They also reported greater activity impairment, more hospitalizations, and emergency department visits in the past six months. The study acknowledges that individuals with BDI are at an increased risk of obesity due to factors like genetics, lifestyle, and weight liability of BDI medications. The researchers emphasized the need for a holistic treatment approach considering the clinical, humanistic, and economic burdens of obesity in adults with BDI.
Reference: Duerr H. A Heavy Burden: Bipolar Disorder and Obesity. Psychiatric Times.
Updated November 5, 2022. Accessed January 24, 2024. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/a-heavy-burden-bipolar-disorder-and-obesity
Link: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/a-heavy-burden-bipolar-disorder-and-obesity
