Body Weight
Lack of vitamin D causes weight gain, stunts growth in girls
By Sue Mueller
Dec 10, 2008 - 10:01:28 AM

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Wednesday Dec 10, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that girls who had insufficient vitamin D were more likely to be heavier and shorter than those who had normal levels of the vitamin.

For the study, scientists from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the University of Southern California examined 90 Caucasian and Hispanic girls for their vitamin D status in the blood and its association with their body fat and height.

They found that young women with normal vitamin D were one average taller than those deficient in vitamin D.   But they did not find any association between lack of vitamin D and bone strength in young girls.

Study lead author, Richard Kremer of the MUHC said "We found young women with vitamin D insufficiency were significantly heavier, with a higher body mass index and increased abdominal fat, than young women with normal levels."