Weight-loss interventions can significantly improve both psoriasis symptoms and a patient’s quality of life, particularly for those with more severe cases of the skin condition, according to a new analysis published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology.
Losing Weight May Be a Powerful Tool in Managing Psoriasis
A recent study reveals a strong link between weight reduction and improvements in psoriasis severity and overall well-being.
- Weight-loss programs led to an average weight reduction of 6.9 kg compared to control groups.
- Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores improved by an average of 2.5 points with weight loss.
- Patients experiencing greater baseline disease severity saw the most substantial benefits.
- Quality of life, as measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), also showed improvement.
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of existing studies, analyzing data from 7 databases from their inception up to September 3, 2025. The analysis focused on randomized controlled trials involving adults with psoriasis who participated in behavioral, pharmacological, or surgical weight-loss programs, comparing their outcomes to those receiving standard psoriasis care or less intensive weight-loss strategies. Studies included had to report both weight changes and psoriasis severity, using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and/or a quality of life measure called the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
The review encompassed 13 randomized controlled trials, including a total of 1145 patients, with follow-up data available for 1063 of them. The studies were carried out in 9 countries, and the patient population consisted of 37.5% women, with a mean age of 49.7 years and an average body mass index (BMI) of 30.8 kg/m². While psoriasis treatments were standardized in 4 of the trials, others allowed for usual care, and one study varied psoriasis therapies between groups. The risk of bias was considered high in 5 studies, primarily due to insufficient details regarding randomization and allocation concealment. The certainty of the evidence was high for PASI and DLQI, moderate for PASI 50 and PASI 75, and low for PASI 100.
Can losing weight really make a difference for someone with psoriasis? Across all the studies examined, weight-loss interventions resulted in significantly greater weight reduction—an average of -6.9 kg (95% CI, -9.7 to -4.1; I² =99.4%)—compared to the control groups. These interventions were also linked to improvements in psoriasis severity, with a pooled PASI reduction of -2.5 points (95% CI, -3.8 to -1.1; I² =85.2%). This improvement lessened to -1.2 points (95% CI, -2.2 to -0.2; I2 =32.9%) when studies with a high risk of bias were excluded.
The likelihood of achieving a PASI 75—representing a 75% improvement in psoriasis severity—was 60% higher with weight-loss interventions (relative risk [RR] 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.2). However, PASI 50 and PASI 100 improvements weren’t statistically significant between the groups. Quality of life, as measured by the DLQI, also improved with intervention (mean difference, −4.99; 95% CI, -9.65 to -0.33), although this finding wasn’t consistent across all analyses. Notably, greater improvements in PASI scores were observed in studies that included patients with more severe psoriasis at the start, while the type or duration of the weight-loss intervention didn’t seem to matter.
Researchers noted several limitations to the study, including the relatively small number of patients involved, variability in weight-loss approaches, significant differences between studies, and short follow-up periods.
The researchers concluded that “Weight-loss interventions may improve skin disease and quality of life for people with psoriasis and excess weight.” They emphasized, “These findings support the integration of weight-loss interventions, as an adjunct to medical care, into routine psoriasis management and highlight the importance of addressing lifestyle alongside more traditional treatment modalities.”
Disclosure: Some study authors reported affiliations with companies in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device industries. Further details regarding these disclosures can be found in the original publication.
