Persisting unhealthy eating behaviors and the role of dieting in outpatients treated for severe mental illness: Findings from a longitudinal study.

This article focuses on the dietary habits and weight changes of psychiatric outpatients with severe mental illness (SMI) during three months of treatment at a psychiatric day clinic. The longitudinal observational study of 53 patients, primarily diagnosed with depressive (ICD-10 F3) or psychotic disorders (F2), found that while psychiatric symptoms improved, body mass index (BMI), diet quality, physical activity, and smoking behaviors remained unchanged. Notably, patients who self-identified as dieters—characterized by higher neuroticism, body dissatisfaction, and ambivalence toward food—experienced significant weight gain, suggesting that self-managed dieting without professional support may be ineffective or counterproductive in this population. The findings highlight the need for integrated nutritional support alongside psychiatric treatment to promote healthier lifestyle behaviors in individuals with SMI.