Metabolic syndrome: could psoriasis be related to obesity, heart disease and diabetes?

In a revealing new study, researchers found that the inflammatory skin disease called psoriasis and obesity may not be mutually exclusive.

There have actually been several studies pointing out the correlation between individuals with psoriasis, especially severe psoriasis, and obesity. In fact, associations between psoriasis and obesity, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus have been noted in the medical literature. The combination of ischemic heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia (high cholesterol) is referred to as metabolic syndrome.

In the latest medical study, 27 out of 29 children showed increased amounts of excessive fatty tissue, before being diagnosed with psoriasis.  The study also found participants who were not yet obese, but had been diagnosed with psoriasis, became obese within a year of their psoriasis diagnosis.

With more and more medical studies pointing towards a strong association between obesity and psoriasis, many now question which comes first? Does psoriasis leads to obesity, or does obesity leads to psoriasis? In any event, one way to increase overall health and potentially decrease psoriasis outbreaks could be by reducing weight through exercising, healthy eating, and drinking water.