Increased visceral fat distribution in drug-naive and drug-free patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate visceral fat distribution in patients with schizophrenia. DESIGN: Cross sectional study using CT scanning in patients with drug-naive and drug-free schizophrenia. SUBJECTS: Fifteen (13 men and two women) subjects with schizophrenia (mean age 33.7 y; mean body mass index (BMI) = 26.7 kg/m²), and 15 age- and sex-matched controls (mean age 30.5 y; mean BMI = 22.8 kg/²). MEASUREMENTS: Various fatness and fat distribution parameters (by CT scanning and anthropometry) and 16:00 h plasma cortisol. RESULTS: In comparison to controls, patients with schizophrenia had central obesity and had significantly higher levels of plasma cortisol. Furthermore, previous neuroleptic exposure did not appear to influence these findings as both drug-naive and drug-free patients had equally high levels of visceral fat deposition. CONCLUSION: Central obesity is a well recognized risk factor in developing certain general medical conditions. This study shows that patients with schizophrenia have increased intra-abdominal fat which may provide one explanation for why they die prematurely.