Vitamin D Deficiency and Excess Fat Mass in a Colombian Pediatric Population

Introduction. Excess body fat, driven by sedentary lifestyles and the high intake of ultra-processed foods, is increasingly prevalent among Colombian children. Vitamin D, essential for bone and metabolic health, is influenced by factors such as sun exposure, skin pigmentation, dietary intake, and obesity —all of which contribute to high deficiency rates in this population. Although several studies have examined the relationship between vitamin D and adiposity, few have focused on Colombian pediatric populations. Objective. This study aim to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels and the percentage of body fat in children and adolescents in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 participants aged 10–20 years from the SIMBA cohort. Body fat percentage was estimated using the Slaughter equation based on triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Serum 25(OH)D levels were classified as deficient (≤20 ng/mL), insufficient (21–29 ng/mL), or sufficient (≥30 ng/mL). Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs), adjusting for sex, age, and cardiometabolic variables. Results. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 40.9%, and deficiency was 14.8%. Vitamin D insufficiency was significantly associated with higher body fat percentage (PR 1.15; 95% CI: 1.05–2.02) and elevated total cholesterol (PR 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01–1.27). Vitamin D deficiency was associated only with body fat (PR 1.35; 95% CI: 1.07–1.71). Conclusion. These findings highlight a significant relationship between adiposity and lower vitamin D levels, underscoring the need for early screening strategies in at-risk pediatric populations.