Just about everyone knows that vitamin D is vital for your bones. A new study lends more support to the idea that a lack of vitamin D¹ may also help set the stage for weight gain in teenagers.

While there are lots of reasons teenagers will gain weight – having low vitamin D is now being recognized as an additional stressor for metabolism. This study showed that those with the lowest amount of vitamin D had the highest percentages of body fat, including abdominal fat.

It is important for all Americans to get adequate vitamin D during the winter. This could be one factor that helps promote weight gain this time of the year. Teens should be getting at least 800 IU of D each day in the winter, and may need up to 2000 IU.