Vitamin D Deficiency: Your Weight Could Show You A Sign

Being deficient in vitamin D could manifest itself through a host of symptoms. Some of these symptoms may be readily noticeable, which could prompt you to ensure that you make up for the lacking vitamin. However, there are instances when a lack of the vitamin could lead to "normal" symptoms. These symptoms could easily go unnoticed since they usually occur gradually and can be considered as within the body's natural processes.

According to an Express report, one of the signs of lacking vitamin D is weight gain. Leiden University Medical Center and VU University Medical Center researchers tried to establish a link between vitamin D and obesity.

The researchers took data from the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity. The data involved thousands of adults, a combination of men and women with varying ages, specifically those between 45 and 65.

They focused on the body's total belly fat plus the abdominal fat. In medical parlance, they measured the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. They also measured the visceral adipose tissue, which is the one that is found enveloping the organs. They also included the hepatic fat, which is the one found in the liver.

The Findings

The study revealed that in women, their total and abdominal fat were linked to lower levels of vitamin D. In men, it was different since low vitamin D levels were associated with liver fat and also abdomen.

Basing on the results in both sexes, the researchers found that with more belly fat, vitamin D levels were also significantly lower. As per Dr. Rachida Rafiq, lead researcher, those who have larger waistlines must check on their vitamin D levels. This is more so that vitamin D deficiency can lead to a number of health complications.

Risk Factors

Some of the risk factors of being deficient in vitamin D would include being indoors most of the time. If you don't normally go our or you're frail to do so, then you can be deficient. Those in a care home and also those who would cover themselves up when their outdoors are also prone to becoming deficient.

The best way is to expose yourself to healthy morning rays. While you may have the option to go for supplementation, taking too much vitamin D supplements could also lead to a buildup of calcium in the body, which is also unhealthy. So before you opt for supplementation, better check with your doctor. This would be the safest way to overcome your deficiency.