Face the sun or else
More people suffering from vitamin D deficiencyA woman is wearing a huge mask and cap in this file photo. Overprotection against sunlight, however, is making people suffer from vitamin D deficiency./ Korea Times fileBy Yoon Ja-youngHuge masks and broad brimmed cap have been the symbol of middle aged women here, who try to avoid sunlight as much as they can while taking a walk for exercise. Ultraviolet rays are harmful, of course, but the people here seem to have gone too far in protection against sunlight.An analysis showed that Koreans are increasingly suffering from vitamin D deficiency, mostly due to their lack of exposure to the sun.According to data by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRAS), around 16,000 people were treated for vitamin D deficiency last year, marking an average 81.7 percent increase each year since 2007 when around 1,800 people were treated.Around 2.1 billion won was spent on treatment last year, up 644.1 percent from 280 million won in 2007.By gender, there were 4,140 men treated last year compared to 613 in 2007. In the case
Dec 14, 2012By Yoon Ja-young