Dermatitis linked to overweight and short stature in children as young as 2 years old

Experts at Toronto Women's College Hospital decided to assess the association between atopic dermatitis and children's height and weight.

They used data from the Canadian TARGet Kids study, which lasted from 2008 to 2021. It involved children 5 years old and younger, their health status monitored as they got older. The new analysis included data from 10,600 children as young as 2 years old.

Researchers looked at parents' questionnaires in which they answered questions about their children's dermatitis symptoms, as well as data on each child's height and body weight.

It turned out that children with eczema at age 2 were on average 0.5 centimeters shorter than their peers without the disease, and at age 5 - already 0.6 cm. However, this difference was evened out in almost all participants with dermatitis by the age of 14.

Researchers also found a direct link between dermatitis and overweight in different age groups. It is not yet known whether these differences persist into adulthood. Larger, longer follow-up studies are needed to find out, the study authors noted.

Eczema or atopic dermatitis causes red, itchy and flaky skin. It is a chronic condition that usually appears in childhood and can accompany a person throughout his or her life - it is not completely curable.

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