Obesity - World Health Organization

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Obesity is defined as ' abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health' There are various factors which can contribute to Obesity and Vitamin D insufficiency and an investigation was done ascertain the association between Obesity and Vitamin among the Adolescents and Young Women by analysing the data collected from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and reviewed by Jang H, Lee Y, Park K. Obesity and Vitamin D Insufficiency among Adolescent Girls and Young Adult Women from Korea.

Nutrients. 2019;11(12):3049. Published 2019 Dec 13. doi:10.3390/nu11123049 .

Vitamin D can be supplied via food or supplements and can also be synthesized in the skin by the action of ultraviolet B light; however, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency has been increasing and has become an emerging public health issue, particularly among young Asian women. The research was conducted from 2008-2014 in Korea. All elements of the Scientific Report recommended by the IFIC met the criteria.

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Five thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine( 5899) girls and young women ages 12-29 were recruited for this study however, 3623 were used. This research was designed to test the hypothesis that Obesity has some correlation with Vitamin D insufficiency. The study follow-up for the analysis was for the year 2008-2014 however, the research has been ongoing from 2015 - to present. The study was conducted because Obesity is thought to have some association with the insufficiency of vitamin D however, the relation is unclear, Obesity causes persons to become vitamin D deficient vice versa.

Most research conducted have shown that persons who are obese have lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D than regular persons however this study was focused on the correlation between Obesity and Vitamin D insufficiency.

The study was conducted on females with age ranges from 12-29 yrs through the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). At baseline, a total of 5899 participants were recruited, however, after exclusion such as women who had missing data on their serum 25(OH)D levels (n = 1451) or body mass index (BMI) values (n = 15), missing values on sampling weight (n = 607), an implausible total energy intake (5000 kcal) (n = 53), or were pregnant or breastfeeding (n = 150) at the time of the survey. These were then subdivided into low, mid and high levels of education which were then classified as middle school graduation or lower high school graduation. A multistage probability sample design analysis was performed considering the primary sampling unit, stratification variables, and weight. The demographic characteristics between groups were compared using a chi-squared test or t-test. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A cross-sectional study was done for this research. This is the observation of a defined population at a single point in time or the interval. (Korean women ages 12-29 yrs over the period, 2008-2014.) Cross-sectional designs are used by empirical researchers at one point in time to describe a population of interest. In cross-sectional designs, researchers record information but do not manipulate variables.

A common example of cross-sectional design is a census study in which a population is surveyed at one point in time in order to describe characteristics of that population including age, sex, and geographic location, among other characteristics. This entry defines the characteristics of cross-sectional design, identifies examples of different types of cross-sectional designs, and describes common strengths and weaknesses of such designs. This type of study demonstrates strength as it relates to the completeness of data on cases, captures a specific point into and uses to prove or disprove an assumption. As it relates to weakness, cross-sectional study does not help to determine the cause and effect. The study demonstrated some levels of bias as Koreans are light-skinned hence the need for Sunscreen which may affect the levels of vitamin D absorbed by the body. However, the study design was appropriate for the stated purpose. The aforementioned paragraphs spoke about the introduction, the criteria of the IFIC Review and the critique as well as the methodology, the purpose of the study and how it will be conducted.

As for the methodology, was there any flaws? The methodology highlighted all the steps that were taken for the research to be carried out. And there were no flaws accounted for. The study is somewhat biased and has limitations which were accounted for as all variables were not accounted for, for example, the possibility of residual confounding cannot be excluded, the use of a UV blocking cream, time of sun exposure, or season in which serum 25(OH)D levels were measured was not considered in the analysis due to a lack of data. These factors are important, as they may affect young adult women at a high risk of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. Secondly, the association between obesity and vitamin D status. However, a cross-sectional study has inherent problems in identifying causal relationships between exposure and outcome. Therefore, further investigations, such as well-designed longitudinal studies and clinical trials, are needed to confirm this causality.