Vitamin D and a hormone called leptin work together to regulate body weight. Leptin is produced in the body’s fat cells and works by sending a signal to the brain to let an individual know they are full and to stop eating. Vitamin D helps to keep leptin and this signal working properly, but when a person is vitamin D deficient, that signal gets disrupted and the body no longer knows it is full. This causes many people to overeat. This could be one of the reasons for weight gain.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause symptoms of fatigue, sore and stiff joints as well. This low energy levels will cause you to eat more or opt for sugary or fatty and junk foods. This will again cause gain in weight. Also increased weight and low energy levels make you want to not indulge in any workout.
Studies have shown that an increased weight and decreased activity level can actually further cause reduction in your vitamin D levels.
If you are having trouble with weight loss added with low energy then get yourself assessed not only for your body composition but Vitamin D as well.
-Dt. JENNIFER DHURI