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Underweight

How is being underweight relevant to schizophrenia?

Being overweight is common in people with schizophrenia, usually due to lifestyle and side effects of medications, with adverse effects on health. However, being underweight also poses health risks such as ischemic heart disease. The causes of being underweight among patients are not fully understood, although genetics, metabolism, drug use, over-exercise, lack of food, and comorbid medical conditions can all affect weight status.

What is the evidence for being underweight?

Moderate quality evidence suggests the prevalence of being underweight is two times higher in people with schizophrenia than controls. Around 6% of people with schizophrenia are underweight, and around 17% of Japanese inpatients with schizophrenia are underweight.

June 2020

Last updated at: 2:53 am, 19th June 2020
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