title: Weight Gain and Its Correlates Among Forensic Inpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), and other indices of the metabolic syndrome in forensic inpatients. Weight gain associated with newer antipsychotics (APs) is well established in the general psychiatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the medical records of 291 men admitted to a forensic hospital at admission and again at discharge or 365 days later if still in hospital. We also recorded diagnosis and smoker status on admission and quantified psychotropic treatment and adherence, physical activity, and daytime occupation during the hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On admission, 33% were obese and 22% of the 106 patients for whom sufficient data were available met criteria for metabolic syndrome. Among patients staying at least 30 days, 60% were weighed again before discharge but repeated blood pressure and waist circumference measures were uncommon, even among those at greatest risk. The 122 forensic inpatients with sufficient information gained an average of 12% of their body weight and 40% increased by at least 1 BMI category, gaining an average of 3.67 kg per month. Weight gain was associated with duration of time and was not attributable to being underweight on admission, diagnosis of schizophrenia, atypical AP treatment, medication adherence, or having been a smoker.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients gained weight during forensic hospitalization independent of medication use. We recommend further research using consistent measurement and wider sampling of both metabolic syndrome indicators and its individual and systemic causes in forensic populations.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; Senior Research Scientist, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, Ontario.
authors.forename: N Zoe
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.affiliation: Research Psychometrist, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, Ontario.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.affiliation: Research Psychometrist, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, Ontario.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: (Adjunct) Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario; (Adjunct) Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Grant T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*