Obesity in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is linked to worse disease activity, increased depression symptoms, and higher burden of pain and fatigue, a study reports.

The study, “Obesity Independently Associates with Worse Patient-Reported Outcomes in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,” was published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.

Lupus patients experience poorer health-related quality of life and patient-reported outcomes than healthy individuals or those with other chronic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. But the cause for these worse outcomes is not fully understood.

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