Binge eating symptomatology in overweight and obese patients with schizophrenia: a case control study

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess whether severe overweight schizophrenic treated patients differ from controls and from pairs in binge eating symptomatology. METHOD Current body mass index (BMI) and the binge eating status were assessed cross-sectionally in 40 schizophrenic outpatients and 40 non-psychiatric controls. In each group half of the subjects were severe overweight (BMI > or = 28) or obese. RESULTS Pearson Chi-square analysis shows a higher number of subjects with binge symptomatology in the group of patients with schizophrenia having BMI > or = 28 (Pearson Chi-square = 8.67, p = 0.034). Among subjects with BMI > or = 28, 60% of patients with schizophrenia and 30% of controls have binge eating symptomatology. CONCLUSION This result may odds to the understanding of weight gain associated with antipsychotics and underscores the importance of assessing binge eating behaviour during treatment and prevention of obesity in this population.