A High Body Mass Index leads to more Acne during Adolescence in Girls

Acne is the bane of teenagers worldwide. Around 10 to 20 % adolescents are said to be suffering from it. Similarly, obesity is another problem which is involving more and more teenagers. A study was carried out recently to find out if there was a link between obesity and acne.

The study, led by Dr. Jon Anders Halvorsen, a researcher at Oslo University Hospital, examined 3,600 adolescents between the ages of 18 and 19. The participants were enquired about their diet, lifestyle factors, weight and history of acne. It was seen that 10% of the girl and 15% of the boys had a high body mass index and were either obese or overweight. 19% of the girls with a high BMI complained of acne eruptions in the week prior to the study compared to 13 % of normal weight girls. After taking into consideration, other factors like levels of anxiety, habit of smoking and diet, it was seen that girls with a high BMI were twice more likely to suffer from acne compared to girls with a normal weight.

The percentage of boys who suffered from acne eruptions was 14%. This figure was same in both normal weight and high BMI categories. This shows that a high BMI doesn’t affect the chances of a boy developing acne in his adolescent years. However, a high BMI can affect the prospect of developing acne in girls. The results of the study have been published in the latest issue of the journal Archives of Dermatology.

Factors associated with obesity like hypertension, resistance to insulin and certain hormonal changes, may also result in the development of acne. However, it is difficult to explain why these changes are only seen in girls. Researchers have opined that polycystic ovarian disease may be playing a role in this. The condition was not ruled out in the participants of the current study. This remains a topic for research in further studies.

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