Health Effects
Enveloping outer garments, such as the burqa, are believed to cause or worsen medical conditions in some individuals.
Critics of enveloping outer garments cite two main health risks: first, such garments are physically limiting because of their weight and because they limit a wearer's field of vision. Second, such garments lower the Vitamin D production in the skin because they block the UV rays in sunlight necessary for this production. However, it has been argued that the risk of skin cancer from exposure to the sun outweighs the risk of cancers associated with deficiencies in Vitamin D. In particular, they contribute to a predisposition for hypovitaminosis D, which can lead to rickets or osteoporosis and may increase the risk of seizures in infants born to affected mothers.
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