Psoriasis Associated With Obesity in Adults
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were reviewed to better understand the burden of psoriasis. Helmick et al (Am J Prev Med. 2014;47:37-45) examined psoriasis prevalence, severity, disparities, health-related quality of life, and selected comorbidities in 10,676 adults aged 20 to 59 years from 2003-2006 and 2009-2010. Related to patient diet and weight, they noted that psoriasis was associated with obesity.
Practice Point: The association between psoriasis and obesity warrants further research, as the disease is a large public health concern.
>>Read more at American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Dietary Plan With Physical Exercise Reduces Psoriasis Severity
Among the risk factors for psoriasis are increased body mass index and weight gain. The prevalence of obesity in patients with psoriasis is higher than in the general population. Naldi et al (Br J Dermatol. 2014;170:634-642) assessed the impact of a dietary intervention combined with physical exercise for weight loss on improving psoriasis in overweight or obese patients. Patients were randomized to receive either a 20-week quantitative and qualitative dietary plan associated with physical exercise for weight loss or simple informative counseling at baseline about the utility of weight loss for clinical control of psoriatic disease. They reported that the median reduction in psoriasis area and severity index scores was significantly higher in the dietary intervention arm compared with the information-only arm (P=.02).
Practice Point: A dietary plan associated with physical exercise for obese or overweight psoriasis patients may help reduce disease severity.
>>Read more at British Journal of Dermatology
Improvement in Psoriasis With a Low-Energy Diet
Psoriasis severity increases with weight gain. Jensen et al (JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149:795-801) sought to measure the effect of weight reduction on the severity of psoriasis in obese patients. The intervention group received a low-energy diet for 8 weeks to induce weight loss, followed by 8 weeks of reintroduction of normal food intake. The control group was instructed to continue eating ordinary healthy foods. Results based on psoriasis area and severity index and dermatology life quality index scores were in favor of the low-energy diet group.
Practice Point: A low-energy diet may improve the severity of psoriasis in obese patients.
>>Read more at JAMA Dermatology