Posted by IsoM on November 27, 2002, at 12:15:58
Please excuse me if the subject line sounds challenging - it's NOT meant to be at all. I'd just like to hear from people who are bipolar what they think & what they've experienced.
I've had a number of friends over the years & still do, who are bipolar. I never really gave thought to being overweight with bipolar as many people with no mental health problems are overweight now. But after reading an abstract on the association of weight with bipolar, I got thinking, & realised that *everyone* of my friends who are bipolar (only 5, so a very small sample) are overweight too - some are very obese.
When I know a person well & like or love them, I completely forget about any physical appearances so the realisation that all my bipolar friends are overweight hit me as a surprise. I know there are bipolar people who aren't overweight, but the abstract suggests it's a minority.
Could anyone enlighten me more? Is it due to medications used to treat bipolar, or is there something else? Please - I'm NOT judging (I know how sensitive weight gain is with anyone, let alone those who already have mental health problems), but I wonder why the relation between the two. And if anyone can clear it up for me or tell me that view is wrong & biased, I'd be happy to know. Anyone?
poster:IsoM
thread:32791
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20021120/msgs/32791.html