Role of belly fat in psoriasis risk signals need to pivot from ‘outdated’ treatments

Key takeaways:

Abdominal fat was more strongly associated with psoriasis risk compared with overall body fat.

The findings suggest a need to expand treatment focus beyond the skin.

Abdominal obesity is a greater risk factor for psoriasis than total body fat, according to an analysis of imaging data, suggesting clinicians should consider treatments that also reduce cardiometabolic risk.

Overweight and obesity are common among people with psoriasis, and a growing body of evidence suggests there is likely a causal relationship between the conditions, Ravi Ramessur, MD, a consultant clinical-academic dermatologist at St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College London, and colleagues wrote in Journal of Investigative Dermatology .

“Where fat is stored in the body matters,” Rame