Obesity Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Users of Specialized Community Mental Health Services: An...

In Brazil, approximately 6.9 million people live with severe, mild, or moderate mental disorders, requiring different levels of care. Psychosocial Care Centres play a fundamental role in providing specialized care to this population, promoting welcoming practices, continuous treatment, and social reintegration within the Psychosocial Care Network. Although effective in reducing crises and hospitalizations, challenges remain regarding the maintenance of users' physical health. This observational and analytical study aimed to identify the prevalence of obesity (defined as a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) and its associated factors among 358 adults receiving care in three specialized mental health services in a medium-sized municipality. A structured, content-validated questionnaire collected sociodemographic, clinical, behavioural and service-related information. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured following international standards. The prevalence of obesity was 32.1%, and an additional 32.7% were overweight, totaling 64.8% with excess weight. Lower prevalence of obesity was observed among users of services focused on the treatment of substance use disorders. Higher prevalence was identified among women, individuals who self-identified as Black, people with hypertension, and those with poorer self-rated health. Smoking was associated with lower obesity prevalence. It is concluded that obesity is highly prevalent among users of community mental health services, highlighting the need for integrated strategies that incorporate physical health as an essential component of mental health care.