Belly Fat & Psoriasis: New Treatment Approaches
- A recent study reveals that abdominal obesity poses a greater risk for psoriasis than total body fat.
- Ravi Ramessur, a consultant clinical-academic dermatologist at St.
- “Where fat is stored in the body matters,” ramessur told Healio.“Our study shows that central fat,particularly around the abdomen,is more strongly associated with psoriasis than overall body fat.”
Discover the surprising link between belly fat and psoriasis! New research reveals that abdominal obesity poses a greater risk for psoriasis than overall body fat, urging a shift in treatment approaches. This groundbreaking study highlights that clinicians should consider addressing cardiometabolic risk alongside dermatological symptoms. The findings, published in the Journal of Investigative dermatology, analyzed data from over 300,000 participants, emphasizing the importance of body fat distribution and specifically the waist-to-hip ratio in managing psoriasis. News Directory 3 dives deep into the implications of these findings, suggesting a need to expand treatment beyond skin-focused approaches for better psoriasis management. Wondering what’s on the horizon? Discover what’s next in psoriasis treatment strategies.
Abdominal obesity a greater psoriasis risk than overall body fat
Updated June 06, 2025
A recent study reveals that abdominal obesity poses a greater risk for psoriasis than total body fat. The findings, derived from imaging data analysis, suggest that clinicians should consider treatments addressing cardiometabolic risk in addition to dermatological symptoms. The research highlights the importance of considering body fat distribution in psoriasis management.
Ravi Ramessur, a consultant clinical-academic dermatologist at St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College London, and colleagues observed that overweight and obesity are common in psoriasis patients. Their work, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, suggests a potential causal link between these conditions.
Abdominal fat is a greater risk factor for psoriasis than total body fat.
“Where fat is stored in the body matters,” ramessur told Healio.“Our study shows that central fat,particularly around the abdomen,is more strongly associated with psoriasis than overall body fat.”
The study involved analyzing data from 336,806 participants of white British ancestry in the UK Biobank, including 9,305 individuals with psoriasis. Researchers used MRI and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to assess the relationship between psoriasis and 25 different body fat measurements. The results indicated that abdominal fat consistently emerged as a risk factor for psoriasis, regardless of genetic predisposition. Four of the five measures showing the largest effect size were related to central adiposity, including waist-to-hip ratio, abdominal fat ratio, total abdominal adipose tissue index, and waist circumference. This association was particularly pronounced in women.
Ramessur emphasized the implications of these findings for psoriasis management and treatment. He noted that while doctors often focus on overall weight, the study underscores the importance of abdominal fat in psoriasis. Measuring waist-to-hip ratio could help identify individuals at higher risk or with more severe symptoms, highlighting the potential benefits of maintaining a healthy waistline.
Joel M. Gelfand
In a related commentary, Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, FAAD, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, highlighted the lack of psoriasis treatments targeting central obesity.He noted that most current treatments, except perhaps apremilast, do not address adiposity, and some, like tumor necrosis factor and Janus kinase inhibitors, may even promote weight gain.
Gelfand argued that the current treatment approach,which primarily focuses on skin and joint manifestations,is outdated. He called for future psoriasis trials to investigate the impact of treating cardiometabolic disease and obesity on modifying the course of psoriasis.
What’s next
Future research should focus on clinical trials of GLP-1-receptor agonist monotherapy for psoriasis, according to Gelfand. This approach could address both psoriasis and related cardiometabolic risks, offering a more holistic treatment strategy.