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While psychotropic medications for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric disorders can cause weight gain, patients can take small steps to improve their health.
Weight gain and metabolic disturbances are major adverse effects of several classes of psychotropic medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. Here are key steps to improving patient heatlh.
Switch from whole milk to 2% milk (recommended 3 servings per day). Lose between 5 and 6 lb in a year.
Watch less TV. Every 2-hour increment of TV watching represents a 23% increase in obesity and 14% increase in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Add an additional 2000 steps (or about 1 mile) of walking a day. Consider using a pedometer or app to count steps.
Know the difference between “stomach hunger” and “emotional hunger.” Many patients eat when they are under stress or upset.
Eat a healthy breakfast every day. Patients who eat breakfast every day are more likely to lose weight and keep it off.
Manage stress with healthy techniques, and behaviors. Use strategies such as deep breathing and talking to family and friends.
For more on this topic, see Obesity in Patients With Psychiatric Conditions, by Betty Vreeland, MSN, Madhulika Sharma, MD, Michele Miller, MSN, and Sally Mravcak, MD.