Obesity is caused by your gut bacteria

Some guys eat a lot yet they can still keep their Barbie figures while some have been on diet for years and are still obese. Curious why?

Based on a new research conducted by the researchers at Cornell University and King’s College London, the reason behind our different sizes lies on the gut bacteria thriving in our body.

Apparently, there is bacteria that lives in our body and it can protect us from gaining more pounds. The said bacteria is genetic and is common among individuals with Barbie figure or low body weight.

In a statement, Tim Spector, a professor at King’s College London, said, “Our findings show that specific groups of microbes living in our gut could be protective against obesity – and that their abundance is influenced by our genes.”

For the study, the researchers studied 1,000 fecal samples from 416 pairs of twins. The genes of microbes found in the samples were sequenced. The researchers found Christensenellaceae, a health-promoting bacterial family and it is mostly found on participants with lower body weight.

The said microbe was then implanted on mice. The researchers found that the mice with the transplanted microbe gained lesser weight. Raising the amount of the said microbe ca possibly decrease risk of obesity but further research is needed.

Ruth Ley, the senior author of the study said that their research could paved way for personalized probiotic treatments. According to her, “Up until now, variation in the abundances of gut microbes has been explained by diet, the environment, lifestyle, and health.” “This is the first study to firmly establish that certain types of gut microbes are heritable – that their variation across a population is in part due to host genotype variation, not just environmental influences.”