New findings These intestinal germs can cause obesity

Our weight has an influence on the existing bacterial species in the intestine
Today, more and more children are suffering from overweight or obesity. This raises the question of what differences there are in the body of overweight and normal-weight peers. Researchers have now found out that overweight children and adolescents in the digestive tract live on different types of bacteria. So special intestinal bacteria seem to be related to the amount of fat in the human body.

Researchers from the internationally acclaimed Yale University's Department of Pediatrics found in a study that obese adolescents and normal-weight adolescents have multiple bacteria in the digestive tract. Developing this knowledge opens new avenues for targeting certain types of bacteria Thus, early onset obesity might be prevented. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism".

Do the bacteria in our gut affect our chances of developing obesity? Physicians found that special types of bacteria can only be found in obese subjects. (Image: kwanchaichaiudom / fotolia.com)

Examination analyzes the body fat distribution of the subjects
For their study, the researchers studied the intestinal bacteria and the weight of 84 young people. The subjects were between the ages of seven and twenty. 27 participants were obese, 35 were severely overweight, seven were overweight and 15 subjects had a normal weight. In general, more and more people worldwide are suffering from overweight and obesity. The children and adolescents underwent a so-called MRI to assess their body fat distribution, the researchers say. They had to give blood samples and record their diet in a diary.

Obese have other bacteria in their intestines
The authors of the study found eight groups of intestinal bacteria related to body fat levels in the body. Four of these intestinal bacterial groups thrived mainly in obese subjects, explain the authors. The so-called obesity is more prevalent than many people assume. About 7 million are in Germany because of obesity in therapy. However, in the obese subjects, the four other bacterial groups were found less frequently than in subjects of normal weight. The researchers found that the intestinal bacteria of obese children were more efficient in digesting carbohydrates.

Short-chain fatty acids can be found more often in overweight children
In addition, the study found that overweight children are more likely to have short-chain fatty acids in their blood than normal-weight children. These short-chain fatty acids are produced by certain types of gut bacteria and are linked to the production of fat in the liver, the researchers explain.

Short-chain fatty acids are converted into fat and enrich our fatty tissue
Our research suggests that short-chain fatty acids in the liver are converted into fat. This then enriches the fatty tissue, explains the author. Nicola Santoro from the Yale University Department of Pediatrics in Connecticut. The results of the study indicate that children with certain intestinal bacteria have a significantly higher risk of obesity in the long term. (As)