Central Adiposity Measures Associated With Psoriasis Risk

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 3, 2025.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 -- Central adiposity measures are strongly associated with psoriasis risk, with a stronger association in women, according to a research letter published online May 27 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Ravi Ramessur, B.M.B.Sc., from King's College London, and colleagues analyzed data from 336,806 participants in the U.K. Biobank of White British ancestry, including 9,305 with psoriasis, to describe and quantify patterns of adiposity associated with psoriasis. Twenty-five adiposity measures were assessed. To examine how measures conferring the greatest risk for psoriasis relate to genetic determinants of disease, interaction testing was conducted between adiposity measures and psoriasis polygenic risk scores (PRSs).

The researchers found that central adiposity measures, including waist-to-hip ratio, abdominal fat ratio, total abdominal adipose tissue index, and waist circumference were four of the five measures with the largest effect size for association with psoriasis. Of the total adiposity measures, percentage body fat was associated with psoriasis with the largest effect size. In women, the relationship between central adiposity and psoriasis was particularly pronounced. There was a significant interaction between the full psoriasis PRS and waist-to-hip ratio on psoriasis risk. When HLA-C*06:02 was excluded from the PRS, the interaction effect was no longer significant. Waist-to-hip ratio was associated with psoriasis, with a larger effect size in HLA-C*06:02-negative versus HLA-C*06:02-positive individuals.

"Our research shows that where fat is stored in the body matters when it comes to psoriasis risk," Ramessur said in a statement. "Central fat -- especially around the waist -- seems to play a key role. This has important implications for how we identify individuals who may be more likely to develop psoriasis or experience more severe disease, and how we approach prevention and treatment strategies."

Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text

Editorial

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords