Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness
Not everyone with obesity will experience vitamin D
deficiency, though the risk is higher.
Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient that plays a role
in many bodily functions, including bone health, immune support and mood
regulation. However, there is a lot of confusion surrounding its relationship
with obesity. Let’s take a closer look at some common myths and facts about
vitamin D deficiency and obesity.
Myth: Vitamin D deficiency causes obesity.
Fact: While vitamin D deficiency is linked to obesity,
it is not the cause of it. Obesity is primarily influenced by factors such as
genetics, lifestyle choices (like diet and physical activity) and hormonal
imbalances. Vitamin D deficiency, on the other hand, may be more of a
consequence of obesity rather than a cause.
Excess fat in the body can store vitamin D in fat
cells, preventing it from circulating freely in the bloodstream where it is
needed. This reduced availability of vitamin D can make it difficult for
individuals with obesity to maintain optimal vitamin D levels. However, this
does not mean that vitamin D deficiency directly leads to obesity.
Myth: People with obesity cannot absorb vitamin D.
Fact: It’s not that people with obesity cannot
absorb vitamin D, but rather that excess fat can sequester the vitamin, making
it less available in the bloodstream. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which
means it is stored in fat cells. When an individual has a higher body fat
percentage, vitamin D is more likely to be trapped in these fat cells, reducing
its availability for other bodily functions. Therefore, people with obesity
often need higher doses of vitamin D to achieve adequate levels in the blood.
Myth: Obese individuals don’t need to worry about
vitamin D deficiency.
Fact: Obese individuals are at a higher risk of
vitamin D deficiency. Due to the way vitamin D is stored in fat tissue, people
with higher body fat are more likely to have lower blood levels of the
nutrient.
Myth: Taking vitamin D supplements will
automatically help with weight loss.
Fact: While vitamin D supplements can help address
a deficiency, they are not a weight-loss solution. A combination of healthy
eating, regular exercise, and weight management strategies is necessary.
Myth: Obesity has no impact on vitamin D
metabolism.
Fact: Obesity does affect vitamin D metabolism. In
individuals with excess body fat, the liver, and muscle tissue can also impact
vitamin D processing. Fatty liver, which is common in people with obesity, can
reduce the liver’s ability to convert vitamin D into its active form,
calcitriol. Additionally, excess muscle mass can bind to vitamin D, decreasing
its bioavailability.
Myth: Obesity will always lead to vitamin D
deficiency.
Fact: Not everyone with obesity will experience
vitamin D deficiency, though the risk is higher. Several factors, including
dietary habits, sun exposure and overall health can influence vitamin D levels.
