Weight maintenance following the STRIDE lifestyle intervention for individuals taking antipsychotic medications

Individuals taking antipsychotic medications have increased risk of obesity-related early morbidity/mortality. This report presents weight maintenance results from a successful weight loss and behavioral lifestyle change program developed for people taking antipsychotic medications.

STRIDE was a two-arm randomized controlled trial. Intervention participants attended weekly group meetings for 6 months, then monthly group meetings for 6 months. Assessments were completed at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 months.

At 24 months, intervention participants lost 3.7% of baseline weight and control participants 2.1%, a non-significant difference. Fasting glucose results followed a similar pattern. There was a statistically significant difference, however, for fasting insulin-the intervention group's levels decreased between the end of the intensive intervention (at 6 months) and 24 months (10.1-7.91 μU/mL); control participants' levels increased (11.66 to 12.92 μU/mL) during this period. There were also fewer medical hospitalizations among intervention participants (5.7%) than controls (21.1%; χ(2) = 8.47, P = 0.004) during the 12- to 24-month post-intervention maintenance period.

Weight change differences between arms diminished following the intervention period, though fasting insulin levels continued to improve. Reduced hospitalizations suggest that weight loss, even with regain, may have long-term positive benefits for people taking antipsychotic medications and may reduce costs.