Background: Psoriasis is widely recognized as a systemic inflammatory condition associated with numerous comorbidities. Among these, eating disorders (ED) and ED-related behavior, defined as restrictive or dysfunctional attitudes toward food, have been increasingly reported in patients with psoriasis. Aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of ED-related symptoms in psoriasis patients with excess body weight and to explore their association with body mass index (BMI) across the overweight and obese ranges. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients with psoriasis and BMI ≥25 kg/m2. ED-related symptoms were assessed using the Binge Eating Scale (BES ≥17) and Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). Screening positivity required a positive result in at least one questionnaire. Patients were stratified into four BMI categories. Variables were compared using standard non-parametric tests, and logistic regression assessed predictors of screening positivity. Results: A total of 104 patients were included. Overall, 13 patients (12.5%) tested positive in at least one questionnaire. No statistically significant differences in the proportion of screening-positive patients were observed across the BMI categories or between the overweight and obese groups. Similarly, the mean BES and EAT-26 scores did not differ significantly between groups. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that BMI was not a significant predictor of ED-related screening positivity (OR = 0.942, 95% CI: 0.813-1.091). Spearman's analysis showed no significant correlation between BMI and BES scores (ρ = 0.031, p = 0.753) but a weak negative correlation between BMI and EAT-26 scores (ρ = -0.211, p = 0.032). Conclusion: Approximately one in eight psoriasis patients with excess body weight screened positive for ED-related symptoms. BMI category was not a predictor of ED-screening positivity. The weak negative correlation between BMI and restrictive eating attitudes indicates that dysfunctional eating behaviors may be more pronounced in patients with milder excess weight.
Screening for Eating Disorders in Psoriasis Patients: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study / Calabrese, L., Musumeci, M.L., Ortega, R., Bardazzi, F., Sacchelli, L., Megna, M., Micali, G.. - In: PSORIASIS. - ISSN 2230-326X. - Volume 16:(2026), pp. 1-7. [10.2147/ptt.s635458]
Screening for Eating Disorders in Psoriasis Patients: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Megna, Matteo;
2026
Abstract
Background: Psoriasis is widely recognized as a systemic inflammatory condition associated with numerous comorbidities. Among these, eating disorders (ED) and ED-related behavior, defined as restrictive or dysfunctional attitudes toward food, have been increasingly reported in patients with psoriasis. Aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of ED-related symptoms in psoriasis patients with excess body weight and to explore their association with body mass index (BMI) across the overweight and obese ranges. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients with psoriasis and BMI ≥25 kg/m2. ED-related symptoms were assessed using the Binge Eating Scale (BES ≥17) and Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). Screening positivity required a positive result in at least one questionnaire. Patients were stratified into four BMI categories. Variables were compared using standard non-parametric tests, and logistic regression assessed predictors of screening positivity. Results: A total of 104 patients were included. Overall, 13 patients (12.5%) tested positive in at least one questionnaire. No statistically significant differences in the proportion of screening-positive patients were observed across the BMI categories or between the overweight and obese groups. Similarly, the mean BES and EAT-26 scores did not differ significantly between groups. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that BMI was not a significant predictor of ED-related screening positivity (OR = 0.942, 95% CI: 0.813-1.091). Spearman's analysis showed no significant correlation between BMI and BES scores (ρ = 0.031, p = 0.753) but a weak negative correlation between BMI and EAT-26 scores (ρ = -0.211, p = 0.032). Conclusion: Approximately one in eight psoriasis patients with excess body weight screened positive for ED-related symptoms. BMI category was not a predictor of ED-screening positivity. The weak negative correlation between BMI and restrictive eating attitudes indicates that dysfunctional eating behaviors may be more pronounced in patients with milder excess weight.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
