Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2019 Jan 19;21(1):3.
doi: 10.1007/s11920-019-0990-7.

Obesity in Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders

Ariana M Chao  1   2 , Thomas A Wadden  2 , Robert I Berkowitz  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Obesity in Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders

Ariana M Chao et al. Curr Psychiatry Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: This narrative review synthesized recent research related to obesity in adolescents with psychiatric disorders, with a focus on epidemiology, mechanisms, and weight management approaches. The paper reviews literature on depressive and anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.

Recent findings: Depression has a bidirectional relationship with obesity. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and their treatments, increase the risk of developing obesity. Mechanisms underlying this weight gain include lifestyle and environmental factors and psychiatric medications, though emerging evidence has also suggested the role of genetic and neuroendocrine processes. Evidence about the most effective treatments for obesity in adolescents with psychiatric disorders remains limited. Adolescents with psychiatric disorders are at high risk for obesity. Close monitoring for increases in weight and cardiometabolic risk factors with use of antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing medications is recommended. Clinical trials are needed that test the efficacy of weight management strategies for this population.

Keywords: Adolescence; Bipolar disorder; Depression; Obesity; Psychiatric disorders; Schizophrenia.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Conceptual algorithm for weight management in adolescents beginning a psychiatric medication. Algorithm focuses on weight and does not include other cardiometabolic parameters that also should be monitored regularly. This is a conceptual algorithm and research is needed to assess the efficacy of these approaches.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Walker ER, McGee RE, Druss BG. Mortality in mental disorders and global disease burden implications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(4):334–41. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ringen PA, Engh JA, Birkenaes AB, Dieset I, Andreassen OA. Increased mortality in schizophrenia due to cardiovascular disease–a non-systematic review of epidemiology, possible causes, and interventions. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2014;5:137. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ösby U, Brandt L, Correia N, Ekbom A, Sparén P. Excess mortality in bipolar and unipolar disorder in Sweden. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001;58(9):844–50. - PubMed
    1. Must A, Spadano J, Coakley EH, Field AE, Colditz G, Dietz WH. The disease burden associated with overweight and obesity. JAMA. 1999;282(16):1523–9. - PubMed
    1. Daumit GL, Clark JM, Steinwachs DM, Graham CM, Lehman A, Ford DE. Prevalence and correlates of obesity in a community sample of individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2003;191(12):799–805. - PubMed

Publication types