Less pain, better heart health: reasons to lose weight when you have psoriatic arthritis

Unfortunately, no one knows what causes psoriatic arthritis—current thinking is that both genes and environment play a role.

People who have psoriasis, an autoimmune disease marked by scaly red and white skin patches, are prone to psoriatic arthritis. It affects the joints and places where tissues attach to the bone. Joints most often affected are the outer joints of fingers or toes, wrists, knees, ankles and lower back.

Although there are several treatments available for psoriatic arthritis, certain habits, like maintaining a healthy weight, can alleviate symptoms—and boost your overall health, too.