Longitudinal study reveals atypical antipsychotic drugs change body composition in first-episode schizophrenia, suggesting fat distribution variation is key for monitoring.
Key Points
Body composition analysis showed significant BMI increases over time in first-episode schizophrenia patients, indicating central obesity risks.
Findings revealed the olanzapine group had steep increases in weight and body fat metrics, emphasizing treatment impacts on health.
This longitudinal study utilized a linear mixed-effects model to assess changes in multiple body composition indicators over 12 weeks.
Results suggest critical metabolic monitoring is needed early in schizophrenia treatment to address potential cardiometabolic risks.