• Serum 25(OH)D was negatively correlated to serum leptin (r = −0.19, p = 0.03). • Total body adiposity >34.4% measured by DXA was independently associated with vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D <20 ng/ml] (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–5, p = 0.03). • BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and waist-to-height ratio>0.55 were not significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency (OR: 1.68, 95% CI 0.9–3.3, p = 0.13 and OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.7–2.9, p = 0.35, respectively). The gene discussed is LEP; the disease is vitamin D deficiency.