8/13/2026
A new study suggests that body weight may play a role in how well some people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) achieve control of their disease.
Researchers analyzed data from 1,291 people enrolled in the Gladman Krembil Psoriatic Arthritis Program in Toronto, Canada. They looked at the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and whether patients reached minimal disease activity, or MDA.
MDA is a treatment goal in PsA that looks at several aspects of the disease, including joint symptoms, skin symptoms, pain, physical function, and how patients feel their disease is affecting them.
Researchers found that people with a higher BMI had lower odds of reaching MDA. This relationship remained even after researchers accounted for several other factors that could affect disease activity, including age, sex, smoking, fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression, treatment type, and joint damage.
Did Treatment Type Make a Difference?
Researchers also wanted to know whether the relationship between BMI and disease control differed among PsA treatments.
They examined six classes of advanced therapies. Higher BMI was associated with lower odds of reaching MDA among people treated with TNF inhibitors, with the exception of infliximab.
Researchers did not find a statistically significant association between BMI and reaching MDA among patients taking IL-17, IL-12/23, IL-23, or JAK inhibitors. However, the number of patients taking some of these medications was much smaller, so the researchers cautioned that more studies are needed before concluding that BMI affects treatment classes differently.
What Does This Mean for People with PsA?
The study adds to growing evidence that weight and metabolic health may be important considerations in managing PsA.
However, the findings need to be interpreted carefully. This was an observational study, which means it found an association between higher BMI and poorer disease control. It cannot prove that a higher BMI caused patients to have more active disease or a poorer response to treatment.
BMI also does not tell the whole story about a person’s health. Treatment decisions should consider the individual, including disease activity, other health conditions, treatment history, and personal preferences.
For people living with PsA and overweight or obesity, the findings suggest that discussing weight management as part of an overall PsA treatment plan may be worthwhile. Patients should talk with their healthcare provider about what approaches are appropriate for their individual health needs.
About the Study
The study included 1,291 people with PsA. Their average age was about 45, and their average BMI was 28.8. Researchers followed participants over time and analyzed the relationship between BMI, disease activity, and different types of PsA treatment.
The authors concluded that higher BMI was associated with lower odds of achieving minimal disease activity, with the strongest association seen among people taking certain TNF inhibitors. They noted that additional research is needed to better understand differences among treatment types.
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