Obesity is a major problem nationwide and even more prevalent among people with psychiatric disabilities. This study examined the efficacy of a psychiatric rehabilitation weight loss program. Twenty-one individuals participated in the 12-week intervention. Another 15 individuals served as matched controls. Results indicate the intervention group improved more than the control group for weight, body […]
Abstract Topics: Obesity
Obesity among individuals with serious mental illness.
OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution and correlates of body mass index (BMI) among individuals with serious mental illness. METHOD: A total of 169 participants were recruited from randomly selected out-patients receiving community-based psychiatric care and were interviewed with items from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. Their BMI was compared with that […]
Obesity intervention in persons with spinal cord injury.
STUDY DESIGN: A single group uncontrolled trial. OBJECTIVES: Despite widespread emphasis on the obesity-related health risks in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), limited research has been carried out to intervene in this problem. This study was conducted to assess the initial effectiveness of a weight loss program on various health outcomes in persons with […]
Body mass index in spinal cord injury — a retrospective study.
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of overweight and severely overweight (obese) in veterans with spinal cord injury. SETTING: Veterans Administration Hospital in Wisconsin. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all the patients registered in the current database with the Spinal Cord Injury Unit in the Veterans Administration Hospital was undertaken […]
Obesity intervention in persons with spinal cord injury.
STUDY DESIGN: A single group uncontrolled trial. OBJECTIVES: Despite widespread emphasis on the obesity-related health risks in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), limited research has been carried out to intervene in this problem. This study was conducted to assess the initial effectiveness of a weight loss program on various health outcomes in persons with […]
Obesity and intellectual disability.
While much of the industrialized world struggles for clues to the growing rise in obesity in their respective countries, researchers and service providers involved in understanding the health characteristics and health behaviors of persons with intellectual disability (ID) struggle with their own issues regarding the increased prevalence of obesity in this segment of the population. […]
Increasing lifestyle physical activity in patients with depression or other serious mental illness.
People with severe and persistent mental illness are more likely to be overweight and to suffer from obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease than healthy individuals. Lifestyle change interventions that emphasize integrating physical activity into daily life have not been studied extensively in people with mental illness. The authors present the results of […]
Physical disability and obesity.
Nearly 20% of US citizens are disabled. Epidemiologic studies have shown that people with physical disabilities have a 1.2- to 3.9-fold increase in obesity prevalence. Obesity is becoming a serious problem in disabled individuals. The mechanisms by which obesity occurs in people with physical disabilities is not clear, but pathophysiological changes of body composition and […]
A study of a structured exercise program with members of an ICCD Certified Clubhouse: program design, benefits, and implications for feasibility.
Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) have significantly greater risk of comorbid health problems and premature death, and there is need for interventions that can improve physical fitness and overall health. Accordingly, a study was conducted which evaluated the effectiveness of a structured physical exercise program that was developed as part of a wellness project […]
The role of a fitness intervention on people with serious psychiatric disabilities.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects a health education and exercise program would have in limiting weight gain and in improving fitness and psychological parameters in adults with mood or psychotic disorders. Thirty volunteers were randomly assigned to the healthy lifestyle group (HL) or a control group. The HL group engaged […]