The efficacy of weight management training in patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction

In this study, we want to evaluate the efficacy of a preventive weight management training. We hypothesize that this training will reduce weight gain, pathological metabolic parameters and will increase drug compliance and subjective well-being.

Method

69 schizophrenic patients were included in this study, in all patients olanzapine was newly initiated. They were randomly assigned to verum and control group. Patients in the verum group attended the training every second week for 24 weeks. Physical and chemical parameters where measured regularly, and also eating behaviour, physical activity, quality of life, mental state and psychosocial adaptation.

Results/Discussion

28 patients dropped out during the first 4 weeks of intervention. The data of the remaining 41 patients (verum group N=21, control group N=20) was analysed. During the intervention there was no significant difference between the groups regarding weight-gain. Both groups gained weight slightly (verum group 3.02±4.06kg, control group 2.80±4.84kg). Concerning triglycerides we found an interaction effect of time and group (F(1)=6.697, p=.025), the same was found on the second scale of the questionnaire for eating behaviour (FEV), which measures to what degree eating behaviour is disturbed (F(1)=8,381, p=.013) and on the social functioning scale of the SF-36 (F(2,38)=3,34, p=.032). Regarding glucose tolerance challenge, there was a significant group effect at the first time of measure after intake of the glucose-dilution (F(1)=9.15, p=.016). Our results do not support the hypothesis that the intervention has the desired effects on body weight, but it influenced positively other metabolic parameters, eating behaviour and social functioning.