Nutritionists have slammed the ever-growing cohort of social media influencers who are blaming a low intake of Vitamin D for people having a ‘belly pouch’. 

In recent months, a bizarre new trend has taken over TikTok in which influencers claim low levels of Vitamin D, which is derived from sunlight among other things, increasing cortisol in the body, which then increases weight gain specifically on the stomach. 

The content creators are often selling Vitamin D supplements, touting them as a way to reduce cortisol in the body which, they claim, will get rid of the ‘midsection belly pouch’.

However, nutritionists have warned that the ‘worrying’ trend is promoting ‘miracle’ weight loss products and urged shoppers not to buy into it. 

The content creators pushing Vitamin D supplements also say a lack of the vitamin can impact sleep quality and cause the face to bloat – in a phenomenon dubbed ‘cortisol face’. 

But nutritionists warn TikTokers are ‘oversimplifying’ the relationship between cortisol, weight gain, and vitamin D, and that taking extremely high doses of the supplement could have toxic impacts on the body.

Social media influencers are blaming lower levels of vitamin D on having a ‘belly pooch,’ which they said triggers high levels of cortisol

She starts the video by saying: ‘You’re not fat, you’re just bloated and your cortisol levels are probably pretty high. Which is not only making you bloated, but is also giving you a puffy face’

One clip, posted by a creator with the handle @wellhealthtylife, has accumulated more than 700k views and attracted dozens of comments from worried women concerned about their ‘bloating’.

She starts the video by saying: ‘You’re not fat, you’re just bloated and your cortisol levels are probably pretty high. Which is not only making you bloated, but is also giving you a puffy face.’

She lists a number of symptoms including skin breakouts, constant fatigue and broken sleep, before blaming each of these symptoms on high cortisol. 

She told viewers: ‘If this is you right now and you feel like I’m calling you out, this is how you’re going to bring your cortisol levels down.

‘Take vitamin D3 and K2 together, which will help them be better absorbed.’ 

She then recommended the brand, Nutrition Geek with their vitamin D products, assuring viewers that this would help their sleep, energy, and ‘bloating around the midsection and face’.

Cortisol is sometimes known as the stress hormone, but it plays a much more complex role in the body.

It helps control how your body uses its energy, regulates blood pressure and tells you when to be alert and when to be asleep. It can also cause inflammation, hence the term ‘cortisol face’.

Vitamin D and cortisol have been linked according to scientific studies, though this is not to say being ‘fat’ is always the cause results of a vitamin deficiency

While there is a link between vitamin D and cortisol levels, not all the claims made online are accurate, according to experts.

Nutritional Therapist and consultant for Wiley’s Finest sustainable supplements, Alexa Mullane, described the online trend as ‘worrying’, since it falsely gives a narrative of being able to lose weight through supplementation. 

While Alexa agreed there is a link between high cortisol and weight gain, she warned that focusing only on one aspect of what causes a spike in the hormone will not reap results. 

In another video follows a similar marketing script, blaming the same symptoms on ‘high cortisol’ caused by low vitamin D.

Another online nutrient seller said: ‘Did you know if you’re gaining weight, especially in the mid section and you’re always tired and can’t fall asleep at night.

‘Maybe you’ve got a hump or your neck or you’re getting emotional at everything lately.

‘If you’re experiencing a lot of these symptoms, chances are you have high levels cortisol which can be linked with deficiencies in vitamin D. 

Alexa said: ‘The recent trend claiming that vitamin D supplements can miraculously reduce fat is worrying because they are only focusing on one element of something that has multiple factors.’

Taking a dosage that is too high can increase the risk of vitamin C toxicity, which lead to high calcium levels in the blood – hypercalcemia – causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and kidney problems.’

Another TikTok recommends vitamin D to solve a plethora of problems. Nutritionist, Alexa Mullane, described the trend a ‘worrying’

Another TikToker attempts to flog vitamin D supplements to users online. While there is a link between vitamin D and cortisol levels, not all the claims made online are accurate, according to experts

Without knowing the reason for weight gain in individuals it could be giving false hope or lead to people taking too much vitamin D.’ 

Vitamin D and cortisol have been linked according to scientific studies, though this is not to say being ‘fat’ is always the cause results of a vitamin deficiency. 

Alexa noted that high levels of cortisol should still be managed with a doctor by treating the root of the problem. 

‘It’s important to look at why cortisol is elevated and treat the root cause, such as reduce stress levels, introduce coping mechanisms, improve resilience to stress or get specific help if elevated cortisol has resulted in Cushing’s Syndrome,’ she said.

Not to mention, having high cortisol is one of a number of factors that could be causing weight gain, such a genetic and lifestyle factors.

She said: ‘There are also many more factors to weight gain (such as insulin resistance, other hormonal imbalances, poor diet, lack of exercise etc) that could be overlooked.

‘It’s important to address the overall diet, lifestyle and all contributing factors that are causing weight gain rather than focusing on one small factor because you’ve seen someone on TikTok say that it works.’ 

Equally, high cortisol needs to be treated as a stand alone issue, and not something which can be resolved be a vitamin D tablet. 

‘It’s important to manage chronically high cortisol because of the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and this can lead to heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, heart failure, kidney problems and more,’ she noted. 

The effects of vitamin D on cortisol could vary from person to person, depending on things like their baseline level of vitamin D, diet, and overall health, so something that the think has worked for them might not necessarily work for others.