Obesity in Kids Linked to Increased Risk of Immune-Related Skin Disorders, Study Reveals - Video

A recent study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, suggests that Childhood obesity can play a role in the onset of prevalent immune-mediated skin disorders (IMSDs), including alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Keeping a healthy weight might reduce the likelihood of developing these skin conditions.

Immune-mediated skin disorders(IMSDs) significantly impact the quality of life for children and their families, affecting emotional, physical, social, and functional well-being. While some biologic treatments have shown effectiveness for managing atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in children, the limited treatment options and lack of clinical trials for systemic therapies pose significant challenges.

The rise in childhood obesity over recent years has become a major public health crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic and national lockdowns. However, the exact mechanisms by which obesity contributes to the development of chronic inflammatory skin conditions, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancers, are still not fully understood.

This research analyzed data from 2,161,900 children spanning from 2009 to 2020 to investigate the connection between obesity, changes in body weight, and the onset of Immune-mediated skin disorders.

The research result indicates that obese children were more prone to developing common Immune-mediated skin disorders compared to those with a normal weight. Among the three prevalent Immune-mediated skin disorders, atopic dermatitis showed the clearest pattern: children who gained weight (from normal to overweight) had a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis than those who kept a normal weight, while children who lost weight (from overweight to normal) had a reduced risk compared to those who remained overweight.

Reference: Childhood obesity, weight change, and pediatric immune-mediated skin diseases. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 144(1), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2024.01.037