Weight control in schizophrenic patients through Sakata's Charting of Daily Weight Pattern and its associations with temperament and character

Aim: This study examined whether daily self-monitoring of weight and monthly interviews with a doctor improved eating habits and led to weight loss, and whether temperament and character traits affect weight change in persons with schizophrenia. Methods: Participants used Sakata's Charting of Daily Weight Pattern to monitor their weight daily. In addition, Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire was administered to evaluate eating-behavior awareness. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was used to assess participants' temperament and character. Fifty patients were divided into two groups: the intervention group (n= 25) filled in Sakata's Charting of Daily Weight Pattern every day; was interviewed monthly by a doctor about weight management; was weighed monthly. The non-intervention group (n= 25) was only weighed monthly. Results: The body mass index (mean±standard error: 0.59±0.10kg/m², p<0.001) of the intervention group decreased significantly while their scores on Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire significantly improved albeit marginally. Conversely, body mass index increased significantly (0.66±0.18kg/m², p<0.001) in the non-intervention group, whose scores on Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire did not change significantly. Weight change and TCI scores were not correlated for the intervention group, but scores for "self-directedness" and weight gain in the non-intervention group had a marginally significant negative correlation (r=-0.33, p<0.10). Conclusion: Our results suggest that monitoring one's weight daily on Sakata's Charting of Daily Weight Pattern led to improvements in eating behavior and a decrease in BMI of patients with schizophrenia.