Cutaneous Sequelae of a National Health Crisis: Obesity and the Skin

Background: The global obesity pandemic has far-reaching health consequences and has become a major global health challenge. The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008 and based on the latest estimates in the European Union, obesity affects up to 30% of adults. As a consequence of this rising prevalence of obesity, there has been an increase in the frequency of certain disease of the skin. Objectives: We review the cutaneous sequelae of obesity, firstly describing the physiological consequences of increased adiposity in the skin and secondly examining the dermatoses associated with obesity.