The cause of obesity has been found! Obesity-causing bacteria in the intestines

Obesity is the public enemy! Studies have found that obesity is not only related to diet and genes, but also to the "obesogenic bacteria" microbial community in a person's gastrointestinal tract. The latest research also found that "obesogenic bacteria" in the stomach and intestines may cause obesity. Experiments have shown that mice fed with lactic acid bacteria fermented soy milk for 6 weeks can reduce their obese weight by up to 35%. However, domestic weight loss experts are mostly reserved about this experiment and believe it is too early to say. (Video/Photographer Huang Zhiwen)

Studies have found that "obesogenic bacteria" in the stomach and intestines may cause obesity. The main reason is that it breaks down some components in food and causes obesity.

Tsai Tsung-yu, a doctoral student in food science at Fu Jen Catholic University, pointed out that obesity is related to certain bacteria in the intestines. Past studies have found that obese mice and thin mice have different "intestinal flora". Obese mice have more "firmicuta", or obesogenic bacteria, in their intestines. These bacteria may promote the decomposition of fat, making it easier for the intestines to absorb them, and increase the absorption of sugars and fatty acids, which can easily lead to obesity.

If the bacteria in these fat mice are transferred to thin mice that cannot gain weight, these thin mice will gain weight. Through research and experiments, it was found that by improving lifestyle and diet or taking probiotics, the Firmicutes in the intestines can be effectively reduced, further reducing the occurrence of obesity.

Clinically, it is found that the main reason why "obesogenic bacteria" cause obesity is that they break down some components in food. This type of obesogenic bacteria is more likely to break down dietary fiber or fat in food. After these fats or dietary fibers are broken down, they are easier to be absorbed by our intestines. Currently, the research team has begun to develop "TU101" probiotics, hoping to effectively inhibit the emergence of "obesogenic bacteria".

Among them, the laboratory led by Professor Zhao Liping of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China found that obese mice and lean mice have different intestinal flora. The intestines of obese mice have more Firmicutes and fewer Bacteroidetes. If the bacteria in the intestines of obese mice are transferred to lean mice, the mice, which originally could not gain weight, will become seriously "fat". By intervening with nutritional formulas to reduce obesogenic bacteria, people can also lose weight.

[Relationship between obesity-causing bacteria and weight loss]

Not only did scholars in Shanghai discover that obesity and thinness are related to intestinal bacteria, but domestic scholars also fed fat mice lactic acid bacteria fermented soy milk to improve intestinal bacteria. The results showed that the weight gain of mice could be reduced by more than 25%. For mice fed lactic acid bacteria fermented soy milk for 6 weeks, the weight gain could be reduced by up to 35%. Therefore, as long as the "obesogenic bacteria" are eliminated, it will help to lose weight.

According to the inference of this study, if you want to increase the number of good bacteria in the intestines, it is best to improve your diet by eating more fiber to promote intestinal motility. You can also drink yogurt and take probiotics, but be sure to choose sugar-free yogurt carefully, otherwise it is easy to drink too many calories and lose weight but gain weight.

Dr. Cai Zongyou emphasized that the research on the relationship between intestinal bacteria and personal weight is still in its infancy, and the types of bacteria in each person's intestines are different. Scholars at home and abroad believe that it is too early to use intestinal bacteria to lose weight. The most effective way to lose weight is to rely on a balanced diet, calorie control and regular exercise.