Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity of Persons with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Obesity is a physical illness found in persons with schizophrenia. The changeable factors related to the obesity of persons with schizophrenia include poor nutrition and inactive physical activity. This research study aimed to explore the dietary behaviors and physical activity behaviors of persons with schizophrenia. The correlation between dietary behaviors and physical activity behavior was also investigated. The study included 187 persons with schizophrenia who received services and antipsychotic drug treatment at an outpatient department of Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital. The samples were categorized into 2 groups; an obesity group with 74 persons and a non-obesity group of 113 persons. Data were collected during March - April, 2015. Research instruments consisted of 1) a height meter and a tape measurer, 2) data collection tools including a profile questionnaire, an obesity assessment form, a dietary behavior questionnaire and a physical activity questionnaire. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the dietary behavior questionnaire and physical activity questionnaire was 0.80 and 0.84 respectively. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient.

The study results revealed that a sample portion of 33.20% scored high for health promoting behavior regarding nutrition, 66.30% in a medium level, and 0.50% in low level. A sample portion of 38.50% had a high physical activity level, 23.50% had a moderate level, and 38% had low level. Health promoting behavior regarding nutrition and waist to height ratio (obesity measure) of persons with schizophrenia in both obesity and non-obesity groups had no correlation and a juxtaposition of physical activity and obesity measures for the obesity group showed a low negative correlation which was statistically significant (r = -0.392, p = 0.004), while the non-obesity group showed a very low negative correlation which was statistically significant (r = -0.121, p = 0.008)

The results from this study show that most of the sample group had a medium level of health promoting behavior regarding nutrition and a high physical activity level, as well as revealing the relationship between physical activity and obesity measures in both the obesity and non-obesity groups. This could be used as basic information for the development of an effective planning program designed to prevent or reduce obesity in persons with schizophrenia, by focusing on physical activity provisions and dietary behavior educational strategies.