OBJECTIVE: The severe and persistently mentally (SPMI) have greater rates of metabolic disorders than the general population (GP). Wellness programs have demonstrated a reduction in health care costs for the GP. A program designed to reduce the rate of metabolic disorders and their risk factors may prove to signifcantly reduce annual health care cost in the SPMI. The study goal was to evaluate the effect on metabolic syndrome risks of a psychoeducation program designed for SPMI. METHOD: Overweight patients were randomly selected for participation in the study. A psychoeducation program which included modules on nutrition and active exercise was developed and tested. The study had a acute(1 hr. 3 X week) phase for three-months and a maintenance phase (1hr. 1 X month) for three-months. Vitals and lab tests were taken every three-months. RESULTS: Subject Characteristics: N=18; 39 + 10 years (22-59); five males; 15 schizophrenics; BMI > 30. Waist circumference - (male >40 in)-Baseline (B):100%, Acute (A): 60% *, Maintenance (M): 60% * (female >35 in)-(B):100%, (A):77% *, (M):77% *. Weight (lbs)- (B):259, (A):247, (M):250. Cholesterol- (B):203, (A):185 *, (M):186 *. Triglycerides- (B):151, (A):113 *, (M):144. HDL - (B):41, (A):54 *, (M):47 *. Glucose- (B):94, (A):85 *, (M):91. Exercise compliance (3 X week)- (B):11%, (A):89% *, (M):33% *. Metabolic Syndrome- (B):50%, (A):11% *, (M):39%. * P<0.05 (student t or X2). CONCLUSION: SPMI subjects had reductions in metabolic syndrome risks and improvement in health status demonstrated by decrease in waist size, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides and an increase HDL. Some benefits were lost when subjects curtailed exercise compliance in maintenance phase. The sample size limits our ability to make population inferences, yet findings suggest that a psychoeducation program including nutrition/exercise modules should be universally available, encouraged and ongoing to have maximum health benefit and reduction in overall health costs.