Overweight and Obesity Now Associated With Psychiatric Disorders
A recent study in Psychosomatic Medicine evaluated the association between body mass index (BMI) and psychiatric disorders. The study looked at data from 41,654 individuals in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Variables such as demographics were controlled for.
The study found that the obese and extremely obese categories had significantly increased odds of any mood, anxiety and alcohol use disorder, as well as any personality disorder. Specific diagnosis associated with obesity included major depression, dysthmia and manic episode (OR 1.45-2.70) and antisocial, avoidant, schizoid, paranoid, and obsessive compulsive personality disorders (OR 1.31.-2.55). When compared with normal weight BMIs, being moderately overweight was significantly correlated with anxiety and some substance abuse disorders but not mood or personality disorders. At all categories of excessive BMI, specific anxiety disorders occurred at a significantly higher rate than for normal weight BMI individuals. These disorders included generalized anxiety, panic without agoraphobia and specific phobia. Underweight BMI individuals had few disorders comparatively.
The study concluded that the data analyzed from this survey provides a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the association between body weight and psychiatric conditions. Interventions addressing weight loss may benefit from integrating treatments for psychiatric disorders.
Many successful weight loss programs involve psychologists in the development of comprehensive weight loss approaches. This study sheds more light on what might need to be included in future programmatic development and the people who should be involved in its development, such as psychiatrists, psychologists or behavioral specialists. Weight loss programs also may want to, in future developments, integrate with community counseling programs to further address any unresolved psychiatric issues – issues that until resolved may cause individuals to retain unwanted pounds or to put back on the pounds successfully shed.
More study is needed on techniques for individual and group psychiatric assessment in the weight loss settings and then intervention programs designed specifically for those with weight issues combined with psychiatric problems needs to be developed and integrated into weight loss approaches. Referrals and community integration will be essential for success of major weight loss approaches if psychiatric issues co-exist with a weight problem.
The pharmaceutical companies need to look at developing drugs to treat psychiatric problems that don’t cause weight gain as a side-effect. Treating weight issues requires a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to initiate lasting success according to the results of this study.
About the Author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
