The risk of overweight in children and adolescents with major mental illness.
OBJECTIVE
To survey the charts of youths with major mental illness who may constitute a high-risk group (HRG) for overweight.


METHODS
We reviewed the charts of youths admitted to a public sector psychiatric hospital. For the 795 cases of patients 6 to 18 years old identified as the study cohort, we derived body mass index percentiles using the Centers for Disease Control Epi Info software. We defined a HRG as those youths who were "overweight" and "at risk for overweight" and compared them with national measurements. We also determined the frequency of psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic drugs use.


RESULTS
A total of 51.8% were in the HRG compared with the national average of 35.2% for the 6 to 19 years age group of the latest available National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We noted an increase in the prevalence of mood disorders and psychosis with increasing age. Many (45.3%) were discharged on medications that can potentially cause moderate-to-severe weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
Youths with major psychiatric illnesses constitute a HRG for overweight.
Hasnain
Mehrul
M
Department of Psychiatry, Western Regional Integrated Health Authority, Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital, Newfoundland, Canada.
Vieweg
W Victor R
WV
Hettema
John M
JM
Colton
David
D
Fernandez
Antony
A
Pandurangi
Anand K
AK
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors