Getting More Folic Acid Reduces the Risk of Obesity for Adolescents

Rates of obesity among young people are very concerning and on the rise.

Between 1990 and 2021, rates of overweight and obesity combined doubled,

while rates of obesity tripled. Any safe, natural help would be welcome. Here’s a

surprising and simple one.

Rising rates of obesity among young people is concerning because being

overweight when you’re young has impacts on health when you’re an adult,

including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and

premature death.

Studies have shown that a B vitamin, folic acid, is associated with lower rates of

overweight and obesity in adults. But what about in kids?

This massive study of 9,404 children and adolescents between 6 and 19 found

that folic acid is also associated with a lower risk of being overweight or obese in

young people, especially adolescents.

Compared to people with the lowest dietary intake of folic acid, those with the

highest had a 35% lower risk of being overweight or obese. For central obesity,

the benefit was a similar 36%. This benefit for folic acid reached significance for

adolescents between 12 and 19.

This new study introduces folic acid as a possible strategy for combatting

overweight and obesity in children and, especially, in adolescents.

BMC Pediatrics. January 2026;26,141.