National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data indicate that women with obesity have disrupted iron metabolism, evidenced by various biomarkers. They exhibit higher iron deficiency and diminished erythropoiesis than normal-weight women. The study highlights how classification models for iron deficiency affect prevalence estimates in obese populations. It calls for more research to examine how iron levels and deficiency change with increasing BMI, particularly in severe obesity cases (BMI over 30 kg/m^2).

 Reference: Aguree S, Owora A, Hawkins M, et al. Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Women with and without Obesity: NHANES 2001–2006. Nutrients. 2023; 15(10):2272. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102272