title: Associations Between Gender and Obesity Among Adults with Mental Illnesses in a Community Health Screening Study.
abstract: The prevalence of obesity and its associations with gender, clinical factors, and medical co-morbidities were examined among 457 adults attending public mental health programs in 4 U.S. states. BMI was measured directly and other information was gathered by interview. Over half (59%, n = 270) were obese including 18% (n = 83) who were morbidly obese. In hierarchical ordinary least squares regression analysis controlling for demographic, psychiatric, medical, smoking, and health insurance statuses, women were significantly more likely to be obese than men. Obesity also was more likely among those who were younger and not high school graduates, those with diabetes or hypertension, and those who did not smoke tobacco. Interaction effects were found between gender and diabetes, hypertension, tobacco smoking, education, race, and age. The high prevalence of obesity among women, coupled with interactions between gender and other factors, suggest that targeted approaches are needed to promote optimal physical health in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, M/C 912, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. jonikas@psych.uic.edu.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jonikas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, M/C 912, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, M/C 912, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Razzano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, M/C 912, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Steigman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, M/C 912, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Marie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 8 Spring Street, Freehold, NJ, 07728, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Swarbrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Health disparities; Obesity and gender; Public mental health; Serious mental illness