Obesity in bipolar disorder: an overview

Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2012 Dec;14(6):650-8. doi: 10.1007/s11920-012-0313-8.

Abstract

Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with obesity, overweight, and abdominal obesity, and BD individuals with obesity have a greater illness burden. Factors related to BD, its treatment, and the individual may all contribute to BD's association with obesity. Management strategies for the obese BD patient include use of medications with better metabolic profiles, lifestyle interventions, and adjunctive pharmacotherapy for weight loss. Obesity-related psychiatric and medical comorbidities should also be assessed and managed. Bariatric surgery may be an option for carefully selected patients. Greater research into the theoretical underpinnings and clinical management of the BD-obesity connection is needed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bipolar Disorder / complications*
  • Bipolar Disorder / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Obesity / drug therapy
  • Obesity / etiology*