The first National Health and Nutrition Survey (Israeli Ministry of Health, 2004) was carried in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Our survey is the first stage of an ongoing process of monitoring the health and nutrition status of Israeli schizophrenic patients. The information generated from the surveys serves as a basis for the evaluation of health indicators in schizophrenic patients, the monitoring of changes over the time and the identification of sub-population groups at increased risk of morbidity.

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Study population was based on a sample from the schizophrenic patient registry in Abarbanel Mental Health Center (Israel). A face-to-face interview was carried out with the sample person (30 acute and 30 chronic patients completed the interview). The questionnaire included demographic details on the subject and family, questions on health status, alcohol intake, exercise, smoking habits, eating and dieting habits, food supplementation use, knowledge and attitudes regarding nutrition, source of nutrition knowledge and “24-hour food recall”.

BMI of chronic patients [BMI<20.0 in 4 (13.8%) of subjects] was significantly higher then of acute patients [BMI>35.0 in 4 (13.8%) of subjects] (Likelihood ratio=12.8; df=4; p<.012), but were no differences in nutritional status (NS) and eating habits (NS).

The findings provide scintific data wich serve decision and policy makers in the formulation of policy and planning of interventions for improvement of general health, lifestyles and nutritional status of schizophrenic patients.