Obesity in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

First published: August 30, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13365

Commentary

While the relationship between schizophrenia (SCZ), antipsychotic (AP) medications, and metabolic dysregulation is well established, the impact of obesity is not well understood.

This study aimed to determine the obesity-related impact of disease and treatment in this patient population in a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42020192977) by integrating findings from imaging techniques that measure obesity. As a result, 29 articles were identified that used imaging methods to quantify obesity in patients with SCZ spectrum disorders, and the analysis revealed that patients' %BF (mean difference (MD) = 3.09%; 95% CI: 0.75-5.44), SAT (MD = 24.29 cm2 ; 95% CI: 2.97-45.61) VAT (MD = 33.73 cm)

AP treatment was found to increase SAT (MD = 31.98 cm 2 ; 95% CI: 11.33-52.64) VAT (MD = 16.30 cm 2 ; 95% CI: 8.17-24.44) and had no effect on %BF.

However, the change in %BF was higher in AP-free/ AP-naive patients as compared to treated patients. Patients with SCZ Spectrum Disorder show to have greater obesity with AP treatment; younger patients who are AP-naïve may be particularly susceptible to this effect.