Belly Fat Increases the Risk of Skin Disease, Scientists Warn

 

If you have excessive belly fat, it’s time to pay attention. Scientists have warned that people with more abdominal fat are at a higher risk of developing psoriasis, a chronic skin disease.

Psoriasis causes red, itchy, and scaly patches on the skin, which can worsen with obesity and metabolic disorders.

 

In this study, researchers analyzed the health data of over 330,000 people, including 9,000 individuals already diagnosed with psoriasis. The findings showed that having more belly fat increases the likelihood of developing the disease by up to 25%.

The researchers used various fat measurement methods, including waist circumference and body mass index (BMI). They concluded that a strong link exists between abdominal obesity and psoriasis risk.

Interestingly, the study also found that simply having a higher BMI was not as strongly associated with psoriasis as belly fat was. Therefore, reducing abdominal fat may be a more effective way to lower the risk of skin-related diseases.

This research has been published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.