Study of the relationship between obesity and vitamin D levels in children of East Azerbaijan during 2021

According to the results of studies conducted on the reduction of vitamin D levels among children in the East Azerbaijan region, as well as the increase in the prevalence of obesity in children during the last decade in this region, we hypothesized whether this low level of vitamin D is associated with obesity in children. Is it related or not? Therefore, the present study was designed with the aim of investigating the relationship between obesity and vitamin D levels in East Azerbaijan children.

This descriptive correlational study was conducted during the period 2021 with the participation of 202 obese children (body mass index above 30) aged between 5 and 15, who were included in the study using an available sampling method. The relationship between body mass index and vitamin D levels was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

The average body mass index (38.42±5.11) is inversely and strongly related to the average vitamin D (18.45±2.65) so that with the decrease in vitamin D levels, the body mass index (r=-0.895 and P=0.001) increase significantly and strongly.

The results of this study indicated that the more children aged 5 to 15 have a higher body mass index, the lower their vitamin D levels; In other words, there is a strong relationship between increasing obesity and decreasing vitamin D levels.