Recent research indicates that childhood obesity may play a role in triggering common immune-mediated skin diseases (IMSDs), including alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Keeping a healthy weight could potentially reduce the risk of these skin conditions. A significant study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology by Elsevier analyzed data from 2,161,900 children in Korea between 2009 and 2020 to explore how obesity and fluctuations in body weight relate to the onset of IMSDs.
IMSDs can negatively impact the quality of life for children and their families, affecting emotional, physical, social, and functional well-being. While some biologic treatments have shown efficacy for managing conditions such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis in children, options for systematic therapy are still limited, creating significant challenges for management. The incidence of childhood obesity has sharply risen in recent years, escalating it into a serious public health issue, worsened by the pandemic and lockdowns. However, the exact reasons behind obesity’s role in the development of chronic inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancer remain unclear.
Dr. Seong Rae Kim, co-lead investigator and a dermatology expert at Seoul National University College of Medicine, explains, “Prior studies have explored the association between childhood obesity and IMSDs, but many have only analyzed data at a single time point or compared children with and without obesity, often with small sample sizes. Few studies have tracked children over extended periods to understand how changes in body weight impact these skin conditions. Therefore, it’s still uncertain if obesity or being overweight leads to atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, or if these conditions can influence weight gain. Additionally, no prior research has examined the influence of body weight on alopecia areata or how variations in weight over time affect the risk of developing common IMSDs.”
Co-lead investigator Dr. Hyunsun Park adds, “Our team is particularly interested in the connection between skin and gut health. We believe that factors like diet, obesity, and other lifestyle choices can alter gut conditions and contribute to the development of IMSDs. Our research aims to piece together these connections, and our current study takes a step towards that goal. We utilized a vast national database in Korea that encompasses information on nearly all children in the country to examine how a child’s body weight and its changes relate to conditions like alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis.”
The study found that obese children had a higher likelihood of developing common IMSDs than those with a healthy weight. Of the three primary IMSDs, atopic dermatitis showed the most significant patterns; children who gained weight (transitioning from normal to overweight) had a greater risk of developing atopic dermatitis compared to those who maintained a healthy weight. Conversely, children who lost weight (dropping from overweight to normal) had a lower risk than those who stayed overweight.
Dr. Seong-Joon Koh, another co-lead investigator, concludes, “Our research underscores the importance of maintaining a stable weight among children already at a normal weight, which may help lower the chances of developing atopic dermatitis. Furthermore, preventing excessive weight gain and encouraging healthy weight loss strategies—particularly through improved dietary habits—should be prioritized for children with obesity to mitigate the risk of atopic dermatitis, especially before they reach school age. Implementing targeted interventions to support weight management could help reduce the likelihood of IMSDs in children.”
