Gut Bacteria and Obesity: What's the Link?
Gut Bacteria and Obesity: What's the Link?
Hi there! Dr. Leon Katz here to talk about something cool in health research: how the tiny bugs in our gut might affect our weight.
What's in Our Gut?
Our intestines are full of tiny living things called bacteria. These make up our "gut microbiome." These little helpers are super important for our digestion.
What's New in Research?
Scientists have found that the kinds of bacteria in our gut might change how much we weigh. In one study, they took bacteria from skinny mice and put them in fat mice. The fat mice lost weight!
How Does This Work?
There are a few ideas about how gut bacteria might affect weight:
They might change how much energy we get from food.
They might change how hungry we feel.
Some bacteria might make us store more fat.
Some might cause inflammation in our body.
What Can We Do?
While we can't control our gut bacteria completely, we can:
Only take antibiotics when we really need them.
Eat yogurt and other foods with good bacteria.
Eat foods that help good bacteria grow.
Maybe try probiotic supplements.
Medical Weight Loss Done Right!
Dr. Leon Katz
Sources:
1) Dysbiotic Gut Bacteria in Obesity: An Overview of the Metabolic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives of Next-Generation Probiotics Jonathan Breton et al. Microorganisms 2022, 10, 452 https://bit.ly/4e6Q3L9
2) Gut microbiota in obesity, Bing-Nan Liu et al. World J Gastroenterol 2021 July 7; 27(25): 3837-3850. https://bit.ly/4ecaO87
3) The links between gut microbiota and obesity and obesity related diseases, Jiafeng Geng et al. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy 147 (2022) 112678. https://bit.ly/3B1WQa8
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