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Individuals with schizophrenia consume more calories while following a similar diet pattern as the general population
Author(s) -
Ratliff Joseph,
Palmese Laura,
Reutenauer Erin,
Liskov Ellen,
Tek Cenk
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.991.1
Subject(s) - national health and nutrition examination survey , calorie , medicine , waist , body mass index , population , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , obesity , anthropometry , demography , gerontology , physiology , environmental health , psychiatry , sociology
With the prevalence of obesity on the rise worldwide, schizophrenia patients represent a particularly vulnerable population. We compared laboratory, anthropometric measurements, and nutritional composition of the diet for 55 schizophrenic individuals (mean age= 46.8) with 119 age, gender, and ethnicity matched controls (mean age= 46.8) from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) using a 24‐hour diet recall. The Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference of the schizophrenia group were significantly greater than the NHANES group (p < .001). The schizophrenia group consumed significantly more calories than the NHANES group, but the relative percentages of calories obtained from carbohydrate, fat, and protein were not different between groups. Sixty‐nine percent of the sample patients were classified with metabolic syndrome compared to 17% of the controls. After adjusting for BMI, individuals with schizophrenia still significantly consumed more (p < .001). Additionally, schizophrenic individuals consumed significantly more fiber, calcium, potassium, iron, folate, zinc, and sodium than the reference group. Individuals with the lowest household income also consumed significantly more calories compared to their higher income peers (p < .001). These findings suggest individuals with schizophrenia make similar dietary choices, but are at an increased risk for diabetes and coronary heart disease due to a combination of larger portions, lower income, and antipsychotic drugs.