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The high prevalence of obesity and associated chronic conditions in persons with severe and persistent mental illness has contributed to a mortality rate that is nearly two times higher than the overall population. In 2008, the Central O'ahu Community Mental Health Center of the Hawai'i State Department of Health, Adult Mental Health Division began an unfunded, health counseling intervention pilot project to address such concerns for the health of persons with severe and persistent mental illness. This article reviews the results of this intervention. Forty-seven persons with schizophrenia or related disorders were included in the intervention which involved health counseling and monitoring of weight as a risk factor for chronic disease. After five years of counseling and monitoring, medical chart reviews were conducted for each person for data on weight change. Analysis showed weight loss and improvements in body mass index. The results of this project show potential for long-term counseling and monitoring as an intervention for obesity in persons with severe and persistent mental illness.

The morbidity and mortality of workers occupationally exposed to wood treating chemicals used in Hawaii for the years 1960 to 1981 were evaluated. The specific chemical exposures investigated were CCA (chromated copper-arsenate), TBTO (tributyl tin oxide) and PCP (pentachlorophenol). Results of detailed medical histories, laboratory and physiological tests, and physical examinations of 88 wood treaters were compared with those of 58 matched controls. The occupationally exposed cases had a significantly higher mean level of urinary PCP as compared to the controls (mean of 174 ppb vs. 35 ppb, micrograms/kg). There were no significant differences between the groups for the other urinary pesticide residues. The medical histories and physical examinations revealed no significant variations between the wood treaters and the comparison group. Review of all organ systems and laboratory data showed no clinically significant differences between exposed and nonexposed cohorts, although elevated hepatic enzymes in both groups merit further study. The results indicated no adverse health effects or increased incidence of mortality resulting from exposure to wood preservative chemicals in wood treaters who had worked in the industry for 0.33 to 26.3 years with a median of 6.5 years. Only 6 deaths were reported, 5 of cardiovascular disease, one of cause undetermined and none of cancer. Total number of deaths were less than the 8 anticipated for this age group.