New HRB-funded research shows that severely obese people with low vitamin D levels walk slower and are less active than their counterparts who have healthy vitamin D levels.
The study, led by Dr Tomás Ahern from St. Columcille’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s University Hospital, examined physical functioning and vitamin D levels in 252 severely obese people.
Participants were timed as they walked 500 meters and climbed up and down a single step 50 times. They also provided estimates of their physical activity.
Researchers took a blood sample to measure each participant’s vitamin D levels.The study found the group with the highest vitamin D levels had the fastest walking times and highest amount of self-reported physical activity. This group also had the lowest average Body Mass Index (BMI) of the study participants.
'Increasing vitamin D status should improve quality of life and may decrease the risk of early death severely obese people', Ahern says. 'This could be a simple matter of spending more time outside, since sun exposure can boost the body’s natural vitamin D production'.
Graham Love, Chief Executive of the HRB, says,
‘Research has most impact if the findings are put into practice. This study shows that a simple change in people’s behaviour could have a positive effect on their health. The Health Research Board is committed to investing in research that delivers good evidence for decision-making in relation to health, whether it is at an individual, clinical or national level’.
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