BELLY fat increases your risk of the skin condition psoriasis, a study warns.

Psoriasis, which affects one in 50 people – including reality TV star Kim Kardashian – causes scaly patches of skin usually around the scalp, knees and elbows.

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The 44-year-old has previously opened up about her struggle with the condition she described as ‘painful’.

Model Cara Delevingne and singer Cyndi Lauper are also sufferers.

Researchers at King’s College London analysed data from over 330,000 Brits, including more than 9,000 people with psoriasis.

They found that abdominal fat was strongly linked to someone’s likelihood of having the condition, particularly for women.

Study author Dr Ravi Ramessur said: “Our research shows that where fat is stored in the body matters when it comes to psoriasis risk.

“Central fat, especially around the waist, seems to play a key role.

“This has important implications for how we identify individuals who may be more likely to develop psoriasis or experience more severe disease, and how we approach prevention and treatment strategies.”

Psoriasis typically begins in someone’s 20s or 50s.

It’s not known what causes the incurable, and therefore chronic, condition.

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It is thought that a problem with the immune system causes the skin cells to replace faster than they should. It is therefore sometimes referred to as an autoimmune disorder.

Dr Ramessur says: “The observed links between central body fat and psoriasis suggest that there may be underlying biological mechanisms contributing to the disease that are not yet fully understood and which warrant further investigation.”

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In light of the new findings, experts said Ozempic-style fat jabs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, may help people with psoriasis.

Dr Joel Gelfand, Department of Dermatology and Center for Clinical Sciences in Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, wrote in an accompanying editorial: “The strong relationship between psoriasis and obesity, and the emerging promise of GLP-1 RAs, is a call to action for clinical trials.”

Dr Catherine Smith, senior author, said: “As rates of obesity continue to rise globally, understanding how different patterns of body fat influence chronic inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis is important.”

How to get rid of belly fat

Most of us have tried to shift belly fat at some point – it can be stubborn and takes some hard work.

Personal trainer Lucy Gornall previously shared with The Sun her non-negotiables if your goal is to lose the extra chub around your middle.

These include:

1. Fill your plate with as many coloured fruits and vegetables as you can.

“These are the fruits and vegetables which pack in nutrients and fibre, but contain very few calories,” Lucy says.

Fibre fills you up and therefore prevents overeating.

2. Don’t overdo the cardio.

“Going hard on runs, cycles and other types of cardio, is NOT the best way to burn belly fat,” says Lucy.

“It will leave you tired (you’ll be turning to high sugar snacks for energy), it will leave you sore, and it will leave you very hungry.”

3. Instead, lift weights.

“More muscle means more calories burnt at rest, meaning you burn off the food you eat easier than if you had less muscle,” says Lucy.

“Aim to include three 30 to 45 minute resistance-based training sessions each week, ensuring that the weight is challenging and your form is correct.”

4. Eat protein

Protein is the most filling food you can eat (over carbohydrates and fats) and helps with muscle recovery from all that weight training you’ll be doing.

“Look to include a source of protein in every meal and you won’t go too far wrong,” says Lucy, noting chicken breast and lean turkey mince are good sources.