High dose Folic Acid needed or not?

[AhFlip]

Looking at TTC (trying to conceive) soon, trying to loose weight but it's not happening easily..5ft 3, 12st BMI 30, size 14+ (Not quite a 16)... Question is, after reading lots of threads lots of overweight people are told by g.ps to get a high dose Folic Acid supplement. My doctor however says it's not necessary? Are they right, if you're a gp or midwife would you agree or disagree with them?

Bump

Have they actually tested your levels? Do you have symptoms of anemia?
I don't know why a GP would put someone on it just because they were overweight? Though having a bad diet might suggest a deficiency I guess but I would have thought they would run a blood test first.
I am on high dose folic acid and my diet is a bit rubbish as I don't eat enough veg! I have a b12 deficiency too though and I'm not overweight.

I've got b12 deficiency to and have got IBS... But since taking high dose b12 tablets I've got higher levels of it but not massively and havent been retested for ages.

So @Makeafamily19 why are you on a high dose?

I've had a few blood tests and my folic acid was low as well, as I told GP I was TTC they put me on it. Been on it about 6 weeks now and I feel so much better. If you have a b12 deficiency I would get them to do a blood test to check your folic acid in that case as the 2 often go hand in hand. Do you get injections? I don't absorb it properly so tablets don't really help me.

I'll make another appointment then. It's better to be safer than sorry isn't it!?

If you want to take some evidence to your GP, it's recommended by the RCOG.

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-why-your-weight-matters-during-pregnancy-and-after-birth.pdf

Yes it's better to be safe, you can't overdose on folic acid so it's a win win really.

@Spam88 thank you