Obesity is highly prevalent among patients with schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder and is more common in persons with these conditions than in the general population. Excess weight is a major risk factor for impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension, and the clustering of obesity with these abnormalities in the metabolic syndrome correlates strongly with increased risk of coronary heart disease and premature death in all ethnic groups and regions of the world. Treatment with atypical, second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), particularly clozapine, olanzapine, and quetiapine, are known to promote weight gain, may lead to metabolic syndrome. A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted at the mental health clinic in the Teaching Hospital Batticaloa (THB), SriLanka. Two-thirds of the population 29(63.1%) were found to be overweight 21(45.7%) and obese 8(17.4%).However, one-fourth of the population 12(26.1%) were under normal body mass index(BMI). Patients with mental illness, regardless of age or type of antipsychotic medication in use, were found to be at increased risk for many physical disturbances, including weight gain, dyslipidemia, and increased risk for coronary heart disease; and may benefit from clinical evaluation and adequate treatment, as recommended by international protocols.