Patient and direct-care staff body mass index in a state mental hospital: implications for management.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is a major problem among chronically psychotic patients.


METHODS
We assessed body mass index (BMI) of chronically psychotic patients on admission to a state mental hospital and in follow-up. We also compared patient BMI to staff BMI.


RESULTS
The initial patient BMI (26.4 +/- 5.8 kg/m2) was in the overweight range. The patient BMI (29.1 +/- 5.8 kg/m2) increased (P < 0.0001) on follow-up and almost reached the level of obesity. Staff BMI (35.1 +/- 8.6 kg/m2) was in the obese range with 64.9% meeting criteria of obesity and 29.9% meeting criteria of morbid obesity. African-American women made up 84.5% of clinical-care staff and constitute the race-sex mix most vulnerable to obesity in the US. Morbid obesity (BMI > or = 40 kg/m2) was five times more common among these African-American female clinical-care staff than among African-American women in the general US population.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings may have treatment implications for chronically psychotic patients at risk for obesity.
Vieweg
W V R
WV
Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. wieweg@hsc.vcu.edu
Thomas
M
M
Janisko
M
M
Booth
M
M
Fernandez
A
A
Pandurangi
A
A
Silverman
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006306:Health Surveys; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D000078329:Workforce