Obese Adolescents Often Found To Have Vitamin D Deficiency

Recently, a study was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health which included some disturbing news about obese adolescents and their relatively low levels of vitamin D. They are typically found to be highly vitamin D deficient. Individuals who are deficient in vitamin D are prone to developing osteoporosis as they age. The reason this discovery was so alarming is because these findings were discovered in children who are relatively young.

Vitamin D is formed when people have exposure to the sun's rays. An individual who lacks sufficient vitamin D will develop symptoms that include weight loss, depression, chronic fatigue and diabetes. They are also more prone to have strokes and heart disease. It is, therefore, crucial, that people have sufficient levels of vitamin D in their bodies. This is true whether they are male or female.

This study found that vitamin D deficiencies were evident pretty evenly between genders. Males tended to be somewhat more deficient in vitamin D than females. This is a serious problem amongst adolescents because vitamin D deficiency cause serious health issues over the long term. The scientists who conducted the study recommended that all physicians should routinely screen their adolescent patients for this deficiency.