Nutrition and Mental Health: A pilot 3-Year Educational Intervention in Supported Housing for Patients with Psychiatric Disorders in Rome

Background: Individuals with serious mental disorders (SMD, experience significantly higher rates of obesity and related metabolic conditions, contributing to a reduced life expectancy. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a three-year, non-pharmacological, educational intervention on nutrition and lifestyle in individuals with SMD residing in supported housing (SH) in Rome, Italy. Methods: A longitudinal pilot study was conducted from October 2021 to December 2024 across SH programs within the Rome Local Health Authority (LHA). Forty-four adult participants with SMD were enrolled in a structured, monthly educational program focusing on nutritional literacy, Mediterranean diet adherence, and behaviour change techniques. Biometric (weight, BMI), biochemical (cholesterol profile, HbA1c, glucose), and dietary adherence (Mediterranean Diet Score) data were collected across six timepoints (T0–T5). Statistical analyses were performed using R (version 4.3). Results: The mean participant age was 56.2 ± 8.7 years, with 65.9% male. Mean BMI at baseline was 32.3 ± 4.1 kg/m². Over the study period, 45.4% of participants experienced weight loss, with 26.7% achieving clinically significant weight loss (> 5%). Mean body weight decreased from 94.1 ± 15.8 kg at baseline to 89.7 ± 14.2 kg at T5. Mediterranean diet adherence scores significantly improved from 2.71 ± 0.91 at T0 to 6.40 ± 1.82 at T5 (p < 0.001). Improvements were also observed in LDL cholesterol (− 7.8 mg/dL) and HbA1c (− 0.4%). The median participation duration was 1157 days, with 54% of participants completing the full intervention. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility and clinical benefits of a long-term, educational lifestyle intervention for individuals with SMD in supported housing. Further randomized studies are warranted to assess scalability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term impact on psychiatric and physical health outcomes.