Unlock the Secret Power of Microgreens to Beat Obesity

Continuing our journey to learn more about our little friends, the microgreens, we return to the scientific studies on their nutritional value and health benefits – particularly in addressing the growing global issue of obesity. In the previous article, we discussed the study by Sibel Balik and colleagues titled Nutritional quality profiles of six microgreens, which analyzed the nutritional profiles of various microgreens.

One of the most striking claims from the study is that “one in every four individuals in the world suffers from a deficiency in essential micronutrients.” This powerful statement reflects a very common reality: practically everyone, at some point, has had to turn to vitamin supplements. The study also cites a 2019 FAO report stating that 41.9% of the global population struggles to maintain a healthy diet.

This data links directly to the issue of obesity. According to the Spanish news agency EFE (2025), in its report “The enormous prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has fueled the rise of ‘miracle drugs,’” between 2017 and 2020, 41.9% of Americans were classified as obese, having a body mass index over 30 (J.L. Cereijido, EFE). Of those individuals, 58% suffered from hypertension and 23% from diabetes.

In Europe, the situation is not much better. The newspaper El Confidencial published an article titled “The Europe that’s getting fat: 60% of the population is obese. Are we on the way to becoming the next U.S.?” (Fran Sánchez Becerril), accompanied by a map that clearly shows the increase in overweight populations across European countries between 2019 and 2022. Finland, Latvia, and Romania top the obesity rankings, while France and Italy report the lowest figures. However, the data for Greece —where we currently live— remains concerning: 54.4% of people over the age of 16 are overweight. Although this shows a slight improvement from the 56.2% reported in 2019, Greece still ranks among the EU countries with the highest overweight rates.

Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, WHO advisor for Europe on nutrition and obesity, warned in the same article that “although the United States still has a higher overall prevalence, Europe is not far behind,” and added that “in several EU countries, especially in the south and east, the trends are mirroring those of the U.S., which is deeply concerning.” He also pointed out that one in four primary school children in Europe is already overweight or obese.

According to WHO data, between 1975 and 2016, obesity rates in Europe increased by 138%, and overweight (including obesity) by 51%. Today, nearly 60% of European adults are overweight, contributing to more than 1.2 million deaths per year across the continent.

What role can microgreens play for obesity?

In light of this situation, one of the most urgent solutions is a transformation in dietary habits. This involves making nutrition education accessible to all, and ensuring that healthy food is affordable. Within this framework, microgreens play an important role.

As we’ve explored in previous articles, they are rich in nutrients, concentrated in vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and low in calories. All of this makes microgreens an ideal functional food to include in diets aimed at preventing or tackling overweight and obesity.

Moreover, they are easy to take care and fast to grow, even in small spaces. They can be cultivated in urban or home settings, making access to fresh, high-quality nutritional food more feasible.

While microgreens are not a magic cure, they do represent a small yet powerful step toward a healthier and affordable eating.

Sources:

Zhang, Y., Xiao, Z., Ager, E., Kong, L., & Tan, L. (2021). Nutritional quality and health benefits of microgreens, a crop of modern agriculture. Journal of Future Foods, 1(1), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfutfo.2021.07.001

FAO (2019)

World Health Organization (WHO)

EFE. (2025, March 4). La enorme prevalencia de la obesidad en EE.UU. ha disparado los “medicamentos milagro”. EFE. https://efe.com/mundo/2025-03-04/obesidad-eeuu-ozempic/ 

El Confidencial. (2025, June 8). La Europa que engorda: el 60 % de la población es obesa. ¿Vamos camino de convertirnos en EE.UU.? Fran Sánchez Becerril. https://www.elconfidencial.com/bienestar/2025-06-08/una-europa-cada-vez-mas-gorda_4140311/

Carlota