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According to UK researchers, the term “mentally ill” now has an even broader meaning. In a new study published in Psychological Medicine, researchers found that people diagnosed with psychosis have a much higher rate of developing physical diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
The study, which analyzed the medical records of 450 people diagnosed with psychosis, found that more than half were obese. Nearly all suffered from central obesity, or excessive belly fat, which other studies have linked to Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and other metabolic syndromes.
Fifty-seven percent of the 308 study participants who were tested for a metabolic syndrome were found to have one, with 20 percent meeting the criteria for diabetes and another 30 percent eventually developing diabetes.
Researchers say the study reveals the need to develop more effective solutions for treating the physical health of mentally ill patients.
“The worryingly high levels of cardiovascular risk shown in our study indicate that a much greater emphasis on physical activity is needed for those with severe mental illnesses, as well as a more significant focus on supporting attempts to quit smoking," says Dr. Fiona Gaughran, the study’s senior author.
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