“…Individuals with bipolar disorder have a mortality rate 2–3 times that of the general population, with the largest number of deaths being from cardiovascular disease (Birkenaes et al, 2007; Ramsey, Leoutsakos, Mayer, Eaton, & Lee, 2010; Ramsey et al, 2013). The higher rate of cardiovascular disease is attributed to unhealthy behaviors, such as poor diet, smoking, inactivity, increased risk for social factors such as poverty and homelessness, genetic predisposition, and metabolic side effects of psychiatric medication (Birkenaes et al, 2007; Centorrino, Mark, Talamo, Oh, & Chang, 2009).…”