Obesity and schizophrenia: New drugs, new hopes

Abstract

Obesity is one of the leading problems in our society. The spread of obesity in developed societies is reaching pandemic lengths. In schizophrenic patients obesity raises an important issue. Patients suffering from schizophrenia have a shorter life span compared to the general population. Prevalence of obesity in schizophrenic patients is high. Obesity is the key factor in developing a metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a frequent somatic complication in schizophrenia. Nowadays, it is clear that metabolic syndrome shortens the lifespan of people who developed an illness. Because of this, the treatment of obesity represents a major problem. Review of currently approved medications for treatment of obesity is the goal of this paper.