Psoriasis and obesity often occur together, with up to 50% of patients with psoriasis being classified as obese. This increases systemic inflammation, cardiovascular risk, and disease severity while reducing the efficacy of biologic treatments. Despite this overlap, dermatology lacks obesity-specific guidance. This review evaluates lifestyle, pharmacological (glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists [GLP-1 RAs] and tirzepatide) and surgical strategies, as well as clinic-level algorithms, to inform dermatological practice.
Methods
We performed a narrative synthesis of epidemiology, randomized trials, real-world studies, and guideline recommendations. Our focus was on the pathophysiology and the efficacy of GLP-1 RAs and tirzepatide, providing a practical algorithm pathway for triage, pharmacotherapy escalation, and referral criteria to a multidisciplinary unit.
Results
Although there are no psoriasis-specific guidelines for obesity treatment, the strong link between the two conditions and the poorer therapeutic response observed in obese patients make addressing excess weight essential for people with psoriasis. The proposed algorithms emphasize universal lifestyle counseling and dermatology-led management for patients with a BMI (body mass index) < 35 kg/m2 and without major metabolic complications. GLP-1 RAs are considered the first-line treatment, given the available scientific evidence about their efficacy in terms of weight loss and management of comorbidities, as well as their safety profile. If weight loss with these drugs is insufficient, the next proposed treatment step is tirzepatide. Bariatric surgery, including bypass procedures, should be reserved for patients with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2, or with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 when earlier measures have failed and/or comorbidities are not adequately controlled.
Conclusion
Dermatologists should integrate obesity assessment and patient-centered interventions into psoriasis care. A structured, multidisciplinary approach could meaningfully enhance dermatological, metabolic, and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with psoriasis and obesity.
