Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in overweight and obese children

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity among children and adults is a significant issue that is exacerbating each year. According to the WHO data, over 390 millions of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years were overweight in 2022, representing a 12% increase since 1990. Obesity in childhood can be associated with the early development of various comorbidities: diabetes mellitus type 2, arterial hypertension, liver function disorders and others. About 22–34% of overweight/obese children have signs of metabolically associated fatty liver disease, which in turn is accompanied by impaired vitamin D metabolism. The aim was to study the incidence of vitamin D deficiency and the risk factors of its occurrence in overweight and obese children.