High frequency of psychopathology in subjects wishing to lose weight: an observational study in Italian subjects

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of psychiatric disorders in subjects wishing to lose weight categorized according to BMI. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: An academic outpatient clinical nutrition service in Italy. SUBJECTS: A total of 207 subjects (thirty-nine men and 168 women; mean age: 38.7 (sd 14.1) years) consecutively attending the study centre for the first time between January 2003 and December 2006. RESULTS: In the entire study group, eighty-three (40 %) subjects had a psychiatric disorder according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision. Eating disorders were the most prevalent psychiatric condition (thirty-six subjects, 17.4 %), followed by mood and anxiety disorders (9.7 % and 8.7 %, respectively). The frequency of psychiatric disorders among different BMI categories was as follows: 75.0 % in underweight, 50.0 % in normal weight, 33.3 % in overweight and 33.3 % in obese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric disorders may be frequently found in subjects wishing to lose weight. Our results highlight the importance of psychiatric assessment especially in underweight and normal-weight subjects