People with obesity are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-12-16 00:01

Australia; NSW

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People with obesity are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency but not anaemia or vitamin B12 deficiency, according to Australian research. The team divided about 3500 adults into four categories based on BMI; a healthy weight, overweight, obesity class 1 and a combined obesity class 2 and 3, and compared their nutrient levels. The researchers say those in obesity class 2 and 3 were consistently more likely to be vitamin D deficient, which they suggest could be as a result of spending less time outdoors. They say there was no association between BMI and anaemia or B12 deficiency, but those in obesity class 1 appeared less likely to be iron deficient. However, they say this could be due to the specific strategy they used to test iron levels.