Excess Adiposity Preceding Pediatric Psoriasis

Abstract

As for adult psoriasis, pediatric psoriasis has recently been associated with obesity, increased waist circumference percentiles and waist-to-height ratios, and metabolic laboratory abnormalities1-3 (Supplemental Table 1). Although obesity could theoretically result from the functional limitations and psychosocial impact of psoriasis, adult females self-reported that obesity developed before psoriasis4 and high BMI in adolescent girls preceded psoriasis hospitalization in adults5. Whether obesity precedes pediatric psoriasis or psoriasis leads to childhood obesity has not been addressed. In a pilot study with a new cohort, we addressed the temporal association of pediatric psoriasis and increased adiposity in 27 overweight and obese psoriatic children.