Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
05:10
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Obesity in bipolar disorder: an overview
1Lindner Center of HOPE, 4075 Old Western Road, Mason, OH 45040, USA. susan.mcelroy@lindnercenter.org
Current Psychiatry Reports
|August 21, 2012
Summary
Bipolar disorder (BD) is linked to obesity, increasing illness burden. Management involves lifestyle changes, medications, and addressing comorbidities, with bariatric surgery as a potential option.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Bipolar disorder (BD) is frequently comorbid with obesity, overweight, and abdominal obesity.
- Obesity in BD patients exacerbates illness severity and complicates treatment.
- The relationship between BD and obesity is multifactorial, involving illness characteristics, treatments, and individual factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between bipolar disorder and obesity.
- To discuss management strategies for obese individuals with bipolar disorder.
- To highlight areas for future research in the BD-obesity connection.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies examining the comorbidity of bipolar disorder and obesity.
- Analysis of contributing factors to obesity in the BD population.
- Synthesis of current and potential management approaches.
Main Results:
- Individuals with BD exhibit higher rates of obesity and abdominal obesity.
- Obesity in BD is associated with increased symptom severity and poorer outcomes.
- Effective management requires a comprehensive approach targeting metabolic health and BD symptoms.
Conclusions:
- The link between bipolar disorder and obesity necessitates integrated management strategies.
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are crucial for weight management in BD.
- Further research is essential to elucidate the complex interplay and optimize clinical care.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
01:24Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as a...
01:18Depression: Overview
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...