title: Body mass index and quality of life in community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations between sociodemographic variables, body weight and quality of life in schizophrenic outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessments included an interview to obtain sociodemographic data, administration of a Quality of Life questionnaire (the MOS SF-36) and measurement of height and weight. Body mass index was calculated (kg/m(2)). SF-36 subscores were examined for statistical differences based on BMI categories: healthy weight (BMI<or=24.9), overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and obese (BMI>or=30). Correlations with sociodemographic variables were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight was inversely correlated (level p<or=0.005) to the SF-36 items: physical functioning (PF, -0.452), role limitations due to physical functioning (-0.279), role limitations due to emotional functioning (-0.256), vitality (-0.200), general health (GH, -0.367) and physical component score (PCS, -0.400). Mental component score (MCS) was not significantly correlated to body weight. When comparing quality of life across BMI categories, obese subjects had worse physical functioning (p<or=0.0005) and general health (p<or=0.005), reported more role limitations due to emotional functioning (p<or=0.05) and a lower physical component score (p<or=0.005). Mental component score was not significantly influenced by BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quality of life in schizophrenic patients is related to body weight. The burden of obesity is primarily experienced as a physical problem.
authors.affiliation: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593, USA.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strassnig
authors.forename: Jaspreet Singh
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brar
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganguli
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment