Scientists have discovered that people who are obese are at a much higher risk of a particularly unpleasant skin condition.

The study found that the chronic skin disease psoriasis may be linked to being overweight and type 2 diabetes, according to a JAMA Network Journals statement.

Researchers in Denmark looked at people with type 2 diabetes and found that they had 50 percent greater odds of having psoriasis — a significant figure.

Those with a body mass index (BMI) over 35 had nearly doubel the odds as those with a normal weight. A BMI of 30 or oever is considered obese.

Why is there a link? More research will be needed, but experts hypothesize it could be a mixture of genetics and behavioral factors like drinking alcohol and smoking.

The study doesn’t show that psoriasis causes obesity or the reverse, but it does show an interesting link that could suggest genetics may be a bigger factor than thought.

The study involved data on nearly 34,000 twins between the ages of 20 to 71.

“There were 720 twin pairs discordant for psoriasis, where one twin had the disease and the other didn’t,” the statement reads. “Twins with psoriasis had a higher BMI than the co-twins without psoriasis and they were more likely to be obese. The prevalence of diabetes was the same in the twins with psoriasis compared with the co-twins without psoriasis.

“The study analysis suggests the association between psoriasis and obesity could partly be the result of a common genetic cause,” it continues. “The authors cannot infer causation. Psoriasis could predispose individuals to a more sedentary lifestyle, leading to behaviors that predispose them to obesity and diabetes, or these conditions could be a cause of psoriasis.”