Introduction:

Globally, obesity is increasing and represents a challenge for public health. Some studies show that there is an association between low levels of vitamin D and an increase in body mass index, but within the scientific community there are discrepancies on this issue.

Objective:

To determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with obesity.

Methodology:

Descriptive, cross-sectional study with an analytical component in obese adult patients who attend the Endocrinology Service of the Central Hospital of the Social Security Institute (Instituto de Previsión Social in Spanish) (Asunción, Paraguay) during 2017

Results:

Sixty-seven patients were included, with a mean age of 41±8 years, 58 (86.6%) female, 40 (59.7%) had morbid obesity, 13 (19.4%) were hypertensive and 14 (20.9%) diabetics. When dosing vitamin D, 18 (26.9%) had insufficiency and 38 (56.7%) deficiency. The associations between vitamin D deficiency and body mass index, hypertension and diabetes mellitus did not reach significance levels.

Conclusion:

The sample was mainly female, with a low frequency of comorbidities. Vitamin D insufficiency was 26.9%. There was no significant association between vitamin D deficiency and body mass index, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )