Why is vitamin and mineral deficiency common if you are overweight or obese?
Being overweight or obese affects how the body uses and obsorbs nutrients, therefore impacting your vitamin and mineral status.
Even if you're eating enough, you might still experience a compromised vitamin and mineral status. Here are some reasons why this can happen, especially when you are overweight or obese:
- Calorie-dense diet: Many foods high in calories are low in important nutrients. In this way, the body may not get enough vitamins and minerals.
- Dilution effect: With more fat tissue, a larger blood volume, and a bigger liver, nutrients in the body get spread out more. This makes it harder to have enough nutrients in the right places.
- Health issues and inflammation: Obesity often comes with other health problems and inflammation, which can affect how the body uses and absorbs nutrients.
- Micronutrient imbalance: The body may not have the right balance of vitamins and minerals, which can lead to a compromised vitamin and mineral status.