The distribution of body mass index among individuals with and without schizophrenia

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate and compare the dist ributions of body mass index (BMI: kg/m(2)) among individuals with and with out schizophrenia, and, thereby, place the weight gain-inducing effects of antipsychotic drugs into context. Method: Data sources were (1)the mental health supplement of the 1989 Natio nal Health Interview Survey (NHIS; N = 80,130 nonschizophrenic and 150 self -reported schizophrenic individuals), (2) baseline BMI data from a drug tri al of the antipsychotic ziprasidone supplied by Pfizer Inc (420 noninstitut ionalized individuals with chronic psychotic disorders [DSM-IV schizophreni a or schizoaffective disorder]) and (3) data from the National Health and N utrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III; N = 17,689 nonschizophrenic in dividuals) to act as a control group for the ziprasidone trial data. Results: After age-adjusting BMI in each data set, the NHIS data revealed t hat men with schizophrenia have mean BMIs similar to those of men without s chizophrenia (26.14 vs. 25.63, respectively). In contrast, women with schiz ophrenia in the NHIS data set had a significantly (p < .001) higher mean BM I than did women without schizophrenia (27.36 vs. 24.50, respectively). Mor eover, each decile was higher for women with schizophrenia than for women w ithout schizophrenia. Analysis of the ziprasidone and NHANES III data sets revealed that, on average, men with schizophrenia have mean BMIs comparable to those of men without schizophrenia (26.79 vs. 26.52, respectively). In these 2 data sets, women with schizophrenia also had a mean BMI similar to those of women without schizophrenia (27.29 vs. 27.39, respectively). Conclusion: Although there may be a small subpopulation of schizophrenic in dividuals who are underweight, individuals with schizophrenia were, on the whole, as obese as or more obese than individuals without schizophrenia, su ggesting that weight gain induced by antipsychotic agents is an important c oncern for many individuals.