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Nutrition/Obesity

Link Between Obesity and Psoriatic Arthritis

Obesity is an incidental comorbidity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). It is a modifiable, mechanistically active driver of disease onset, severity, and treatment failure. A new comprehensive review in RMD Open (Madsen et al., 2026) synthesizes 49 studies suggesting that weight management belongs in

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Lifestyle and Incretin Therapy Advice for Rheumatologists As GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists become standard co-management tools for obese patients with RA, PsA, axSpA, and gout, this JAMA Insights perspective by Kushner, et al. reframes lifestyle counseling as an adjunct to https://t.co/9dfmKLuJF7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
BMJ reports TriNetX EHR study showing GLP-1 RA use in knee OA pts was assoc w/ significantly lower cumulative TKA incidence (p<0.001).  1 year any GLP-1 RA (HR 0.90) or 3 yrs exposure (HR 0.72) signif lowered TKA 8 yrs later https://t.co/RGQJJHgLFv https://t.co/BoSgFoOyNN
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RHEUM Survey>> Should rheumatologists run dedicated obesity clinics? Answer here>> https://t.co/O1DEKQLnYg

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The weight is off, the DMARDs are off - now what?

That promised land of substantive weight loss comes within it the illusion of better disease control and, for inflammatory arthritis patients, the possibility of reducing the burden of regular medicines - often driven by the patient, with or without telling you. It is a dream worth aspiring to

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Mediterranean Diet Lowers Incident Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has published the results of the SUN Project study, showing that long-term adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was associated with a substantially lower risk of incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but not psoriasis. 

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RHEUM Survey>> Should rheumatologists run dedicated obesity clinics? Answer here>> https://t.co/O1DEKQLnYg

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Obesity and Psoriatic Disease Obesity is a clinically important comorbidity in psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Excess adiposity contributes to systemic inflammation and cardiometabolic risk and may adversely affect disease severity and response to some systemic https://t.co/WVIqfq8vEj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Bringing TOGETHER-PsA Into Clinical Practice

When Ms. RS came into my clinic for a new patient evaluation, she was suffering from highly active skin disease, joint swelling, pain and poor mobility. Her body mass index was 46, indicating class III obesity. A treatment plan focused solely on her inflammatory disease without addressing her

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Prescribing New GLP-1-Based Therapies https://t.co/cpxyxBMZ8s https://t.co/yV8Jvkh2sk
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheum Survey: Beyond weight loss, How will GLP-1 drugs benefit rheumatic pts?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Study of 119 Rheum pts on GLP-1 Rx (65% T2DM, 35% obesity; mean BMI 35). @ 12 mos wt loss −7.7 kg & 56% improved ≥1 BMI category. Signif decr in A1c, FBS, lipids, LDL, TG, ESR & CRP. GLP-1RAs useful cardiometabolic benefits https://t.co/fdNtvGu8Vb~ https://t.co/vM3Ukr9XUF
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Do You Have to be Overweight for GLP-1s to Work? https://t.co/7IsksT3x45 https://t.co/DaF2Dgt5Xm
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Endocrine Society - State of Obesity Science and Management The Endocrine Society has published a scientific statement reframing obesity as a heterogeneous, chronically dysregulated fat-mass disorder, whose biology is being effectively tested by GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists. Is https://t.co/FHHTNcp9gL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Lifestyle and Incretin Therapy Advice for Rheumatologists As GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists become standard co-management tools for obese patients with RA, PsA, axSpA, and gout, this JAMA Insights perspective reframes lifestyle counseling as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy - a https://t.co/ltPdGEgQ60
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

VA/DoD 2025 Obesity Guidelines

Annals of Internal Medicine has published the updated 2025 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines on adult Overweight and Obesity management. Here is a review of the guidelines, including five key takeaways for rheumatologists.

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FDA FAERS pharmacovigilance study of MSK serious adverse reports w/ GLP-1 RAs - Muscle atrophy showed the strongest AE, w/ less freq reports of back pain, muscle spasms, neck pain. https://t.co/4xRH6yWH1o https://t.co/MKCKtkFd1u
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheum Survey: Beyond weight loss, How will GLP-1 drugs benefit rheumatic pts?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Rheumatology Pay Up (9.25.2026)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.

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Southern Israel study (2009-24) shows fibromyalgia prevalence Incr from 1.04% to 3.88%, esp 30-59 yrs; more males, w/ more Psych comorbidities; fewer hospitalizations & specialist visits but increased imaging. More use of pregabalin, duloxetine, & gabapentin. https://t.co/kgmvdZF9HQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prescribing New GLP-1-Based Therapies https://t.co/cpxyxBMZ8s https://t.co/9JXmlW2Lj6
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
QD Clinic: GLP-1s and History of Thyroid Cancer? Daric Mueller, PA-C, St. Clair Shores, MI, presents this case as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign, presented in September 2026. https://t.co/rhsUNVIdQ4 https://t.co/mjHEWNIGqU
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Obesity and Psoriatic Disease

Mason Arbabi, MD and Juliana S. Simonetti, MD

Obesity is a clinically important comorbidity in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Excess adiposity contributes to systemic inflammation and cardiometabolic risk and may adversely affect disease severity and response to some systemic therapies. Intentional weight loss should be considered an

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Obesity and Gout: An Old Relationship with New Thoughts https://t.co/T71u9Ta4NS https://t.co/B7vUVqIBQE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Study of 119 Rheum pts on GLP-1 Rx (65% T2DM, 35% obesity; mean BMI 35). @ 12 mos wt loss −7.7 kg & 56% improved ≥1 BMI category. Signif decr in A1c, FBS, lipids, LDL, TG, ESR & CRP. GLP-1RAs useful cardiometabolic benefits https://t.co/fdNtvGu8Vb~ https://t.co/EdAqXfsjW0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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