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.

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