As with many of the comorbidities common in patients with bipolar disorder, obesity and metabolic comorbidities interact with bipolar disorder to reduce the likelihood of good prognosis, whilst also interacting with some of the other comorbidities commonly seen in people with bipolar disorder.4 This reinforces the need for complex, multidisciplinary care for these patients; for example, the management of obesity in people with BD involves helping patients to correctly balance dietary intake and physical activity and exercise.4
References:
1. Chan JKN, Correll CU, Wong CSM, et al. Life expectancy and years of potential life lost in people with mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 65: 102294.
2. Crump C, Sundquist K, Winkleby MA, Sundquist J. Comorbidities and mortality in bipolar disorder: a Swedish national cohort study. JAMA Psychiatry 2013; 70 (9): 931–939.
3. Lindekilde N, Scheuer SH, Rutters F, et al. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in psychiatric disorders: an umbrella review with meta-analysis of 245 observational studies from 32 systematic reviews. Diabetologia 2022; 65 (3): 440–456.
4. Mansur RB, McIntyre RS. Metabolic comorbidity and physical health implications for bipolar disorder: an update. FOCUS 2015; 13 (1): 12–18.
5. Prillo J, Soh JF, Park H, et al. Obesity and metabolic comorbidity in bipolar disorder: do patients on lithium comprise a subgroup? A naturalistic study. BMC Psychiatry 2021; 21 (1): 558.