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Antipsychotics are medications used to treat psychosis and other psychiatric conditions by influencing neurotransmitter activity in the brain, particularly dopamine signaling. Some antipsychotic medications can affect appetite, food intake, eating behavior, body weight, and metabolic health, making them relevant to the study of nutritional psychology and the relationship between mental health and eating behavior.
From a nutritional psychology perspective, these medication-related changes can influence hunger cues, food preferences, eating patterns, and perceptions of satiety. Weight and metabolic changes are not uniform across all antipsychotic medications or individuals, and factors such as medication type, dose, duration, genetics, activity, and dietary patterns can contribute. Understanding these interactions helps explain why mental health treatment and nutrition should sometimes be considered together.
Nutritional psychology can also help examine how changes in appetite and eating behavior affect psychological well-being. Support may include monitoring dietary patterns, recognizing changes in hunger or fullness, and encouraging sustainable eating habits without stigma or restrictive approaches. Because antipsychotics are prescribed for serious mental health conditions, nutrition strategies should complement rather than replace medical treatment, with medication changes discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
Author and reviewer
Editorial responsibilityReferences and further reading
- Newcomer JW, Haupt DW. The metabolic effects of antipsychotic medications. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2006;51(8):480–491. PMID: 16933585. View source
- The impacts of antipsychotic medications on eating-related outcomes: A mixed methods systematic review. Eating and Weight Disorders. 2025. PMID: 39899652. View source
How to cite this entry
CNP (2026). Antipsychotics. In CNP Encyclopedia Editorial Board (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.
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