The Psychiatrist (2008) 32: 117. doi: 10.1192/pb.32.3.117a
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ahmed, A. S.
Right arrow Articles by Nazir, Z.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Ahmed, A. S.
Right arrow Articles by Nazir, Z.

Correspondence

Vending machines in acute psychiatric units: what purpose do they serve?

Ayesha S. Ahmed, Specialist Registrar

*Bradgate Mental Health Unit, Glenfield General Hospital, Leicester, email:ayeshasahmed25{at}yahoo.co.uk

Zoonia Nazir, Specialist Registrar in Psychotherapy

St Michael’s Hospital, Warwick

People with mental illness are over 50% more likely to be overweight or obese than those without (Compton et al, 2006). Evidence shows that people with schizophrenia have an increased risk of early death, mostly due to cardiovascular disease and diabetes linked to obesity.

A case-control study carried out in Nithsdale, Scotland (McCreadie et al, 1998) showed that most patients with schizophrenia were overweight or obese and their intake of saturated fats was higher compared with age-matched controls. On average they consumed 12 portions of fruit and vegetables a week instead of the recommended 35 per week. It was concluded that people with schizophrenia were making poor dietary choices and assertive programmes were needed.

Patients admitted during acute phase of their mental illness often have impaired judgement; therefore care should be anything but increased in such situations. However, astonishingly many mental health units have placed vending machines outside the acute mental health wards, which only dispense chocolate bars, crisps and soft drinks, with no healthy options. It is hard not to be cynical about the motives behind installation of such machines; surely it is not just for the convenience of patients. Instead of being opportunistic, offering patients a diet rich in calories, refined starch and fat at their doorstep can in no way be justified.

Since stimulus control is an integral part of weight management, it is time to put the practice right and make healthier choices available to the already vulnerable client group. As healthcare professionals we cannot justify waiting for someone like Jamie Oliver to teach us the basic rules of a balanced diet.

References

  1. COMPTON, M.T., DAUMIT, G. L. & DRUSS, B. G. (2006) Cigarette smoking and overweight/obesity among individuals with serious mental illnesses: A preventive perspective. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 14, 212 -222.[CrossRef][Medline]
  2. McCREADIE, R., MACDONALD, E., BLACKLOCK, C., et al (1998) Dietary intake of schizophrenic patients in Nithsdale, Scotland: case-control study. BMJ, 317, 784 -785.[Free Full Text]



eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Who decides what we eat !!!
Vivek A Furtado
The Psychiatrist Online, 4 Apr 2008 [Full text]
The vending machine: friend or foe?
Adeniyi S. Adetoki
The Psychiatrist Online, 4 Apr 2008 [Full text]
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ahmed, A. S.
Right arrow Articles by Nazir, Z.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Ahmed, A. S.
Right arrow Articles by Nazir, Z.