Obesity linked with Vitamin D deficiency

A further reason to eat healthily and be active is suggested in a new report on the link between obesity and vitamin D deficiency.

 It seems that vitamin D, which is stored in fatty tissue, may be prevented from circulating within the body because of the increased storage capacity in obese bodies.

The study linked each 10% rise in body mass index to a 4% drop of available vitamin D in the body.

The functions of vitamin D are listed on the NHS Choices website

The sunshine vitamin

Sunlight is our main source of vitamin D but with short winter days in particular, we risk our 'daily dose' falling short of the recommended levels. Additionally, with only 10% of the recommended daily amount found naturally in food there may be justification in fortifying more foods with vitamin D; a view supported by Professor Mitch Blair, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The clearest indication of deficiency is the increase in hospital admissions due to rickets over the last 15 years. Currently the Government's Healthy Start programme offers vitamins free for people on income support but it seems that the uptake level is low. Perhaps low-cost supplements available to all would be the answer, added to a dose of public knowledge of the need?