This intestinal bacteria can cause you to lose weight

A recent scientific study shows that the cause of your weight loss may be related to a type of bacteria in the intestinal tract.

According to Livescience, for many people, weight loss can be achieved through diet but others face many difficulties in this regard. A recent study shows that a small bacterium in the intestinal tract may play an important role in determining a person's ease or difficulty in losing weight.

Research shows that, among people who have long-term difficulties with weight loss, their intestinal bacteria tend to use carbohydrates better, providing the human body with more energy. Usually this is a good thing, because people need carbohydrates to provide energy for the body. But for some people who try to lose weight, the intestinal bacteria's ability to provide energy can be an obstacle.

Gut bacteria can be an important factor in determining the level of weight loss you achieve.

Purna Kashyap, a gastronomic researcher at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, and co-author of the study, said: " Gut bacteria can be an important factor in determining the level of weight loss you achieve. Yes , behind the two factors of lifestyle and diet ".

The researchers emphasize that these findings are preliminary and need to be verified by larger studies. However, research shows that this may be an important direction in personal health care and treatment of obesity.

For the new study, the researchers analyzed data from 26 obese people enrolled in an obesity treatment program with diet, exercise and behavior change (lifestyle). The researchers also analyzed stool samples of participants, collected at the start of the study and after three months of implementing the weight loss program.

During this three-month period, participants lost an average of 8.2 lbs. (3.7 kg). Nine of the participants lost at least 5% of their body weight, which researchers considered "successful" weight loss . 17 other participants lost less than 5% of their body weight. In the "successful" weight loss group, participants lost an average of 17.4 lbs. (7.9 kg), compared with 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kg) in the "unsuccessful" group.

Next, using stool samples, the researchers analyzed the intestinal bacteria of the participants to learn about bacterial genes that play a role in breaking down carbohydrates. They found that, in the unsuccessful weight loss group, there were a large number of these bacterial genes compared to the successful weight loss group.

Furthermore, the study also found that people in the successful weight loss group had higher levels of bacteria called Phascolarctobacterium , while those in the unsuccessful weight loss group had higher levels of bacteria called Dialister. (However, it is not clear whether Dialister bacteria use carbohydrates to interfere with weight loss.)

We can modify a person's weight loss plan based on their intestinal bacteria.

Vijaya Surampudi, a doctor who is participating in UCLA Health's obesity risk management program (who is not involved in the study), said the new study "supports what we are learning about micro creature".

Indeed, these findings share the same view with another recent study that suggests that intestinal bacteria may play a role in obesity and weight loss. For example, a 2013 study on rats showed that mice that received "intestinal bacterial implants" from an obese person had a higher weight and fat mass than mice that received bacteria from thin people. . And a 2015 study in humans found that cancer surgery could lead to long-term changes to the intestinal flora and contribute to weight loss.

However, Surampudi said that this study is only on a small scale and needs more research before confirming the problem.

Surampudi told Live Science: "We can use microorganisms to find a better diet for everyone." Of course, Surampudi said that more research was needed before this method could be used for patients.

Kashyap agrees that if future research confirms the recent finding is correct, "we can modify a person's weight loss plan based on their intestinal bacteria, or try to change bacteria." intestinal tract using probiotic-targeted methods before carrying out weight loss ".