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Fostered by medication effects, low incomes, and inactivity, obesity is a major problem in patients with schizophrenia and related psychoses and complicates their treatment. These researchers studied obesity levels and perceived body image among 50 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (45 men; mean age, 48) and 50 age-, sex-, and race-matched controls. Symptoms were relatively well controlled, and 88% of patients were on at least one atypical antipsychotic medication.
Unsurprisingly, rates of obesity (body-mass index ≥30) were higher among patients than among controls (46% vs. 18%). Patients underestimated their weights by an average of 3.20 kg (11.0%) and controls underestimated theirs by 1.33 kg (4.9%). Obesity significa…