Is there really a connection between “good” bacteria and weight loss? The use of probiotics and intestinal bacteria supplements has been gaining a lot of attention lately from those who want to lose weight, many believe that they can improve nutrient absorption and reduce inflammatory processes in fat cells, which would favor weight loss. Mayo Clinic endocrinologist Dr. Meera Shah, explains what the real impact of using probiotics in the form of supplements in the diet would be.
“The bacterial population in obese people actually differs from the population in non-obese people. But we still don’t know whether this difference contributes to obesity or is a consequence of it. So far, research has yet to provide clear answers. While taking probiotics probably won’t do any harm, it may not help fight obesity.”
Dr. Meera Shah, too, points out that it’s important to understand that weight gain is primarily a function of energy imbalance. “You gain weight when you eat more calories than your body uses. And there’s some evidence that gut bacteria play a role in how efficiently the body extracts energy from food reaching the small intestine.
The digestive tract, also called the intestine, contains trillions of bacteria. Many of these bacteria have useful functions for the body, including metabolizing nutrients in food. While many of the gut bacteria are important, some are not. Studies have been done on how an imbalance between good and bad gut bacteria can contribute to certain medical disorders.”
The specialist points out that ingesting foods, such as yogurt or cabbage, which contain probiotics, a type of “good” bacteria, or taking probiotic supplements have proven health benefits and that, despite the need to carry out more research, there is some evidence of that probiotics can improve gut health.
“To date, however, the only studies that have shown convincing results that changing the composition of gut bacteria, also called the gut microbiome, affects weight have been carried out using germ-free mice. On the other hand, data in humans are imprecise regarding the role of probiotics in aiding weight loss,” he states.
An analysis of the results of published studies that investigated probiotics and weight loss was performed but proved inconclusive. This is in part because research methods varied greatly between studies and a variety of different probiotics were included.
“What is clear is that the most important factor determining the composition of the gut microbiome is diet. But, as stated earlier, this calls into question which comes first. Does obesity lead to certain types of microorganisms? Or does a certain type of microorganism lead to obesity? At this time, that is unknown.”
Dr. Shan also points out that taking steps to maintain a healthy gut microbiome can help you on your weight loss journey. For example, eating lots of fruits and vegetables seems to help the good bacteria in the gut thrive. And this can be beneficial for feeling full and limiting excessive intake of off-diet snacks and other unnecessary calories. Additionally, limiting animal-based fat, sugar, and protein can also help maintain a healthier gut microbiome, as research shows that diets high in these foods are linked to a more unfavorable gut bacterial makeup.
“Taking a probiotic supplement may also improve the health of your gut microbiome, but it’s unclear what role they play in weight loss. The most reliable way to lose weight is to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly so that you burn more calories than you consume. I always recommend that you ask your primary health care team specific questions about diet and exercise.” concludes.
Is there really a connection between “good” bacteria and weight loss? The use of probiotics and intestinal bacteria supplements has been gaining a lot of attention lately from those who want to lose weight, many believe that they can improve nutrient absorption and reduce inflammatory processes in fat cells, which would favor weight loss. Mayo Clinic endocrinologist Dr. Meera Shah, explains what the real impact of using probiotics in the form of supplements in the diet would be.
“The bacterial population in obese people actually differs from the population in non-obese people. But we still don’t know whether this difference contributes to obesity or is a consequence of it. So far, research has yet to provide clear answers. While taking probiotics probably won’t do any harm, it may not help fight obesity.”
Dr. Meera Shah, too, points out that it’s important to understand that weight gain is primarily a function of energy imbalance. “You gain weight when you eat more calories than your body uses. And there’s some evidence that gut bacteria play a role in how efficiently the body extracts energy from food reaching the small intestine.
The digestive tract, also called the intestine, contains trillions of bacteria. Many of these bacteria have useful functions for the body, including metabolizing nutrients in food. While many of the gut bacteria are important, some are not. Studies have been done on how an imbalance between good and bad gut bacteria can contribute to certain medical disorders.”
The specialist points out that ingesting foods, such as yogurt or cabbage, which contain probiotics, a type of “good” bacteria, or taking probiotic supplements have proven health benefits and that, despite the need to carry out more research, there is some evidence of that probiotics can improve gut health.
“To date, however, the only studies that have shown convincing results that changing the composition of gut bacteria, also called the gut microbiome, affects weight have been carried out using germ-free mice. On the other hand, data in humans are imprecise regarding the role of probiotics in aiding weight loss,” he states.
An analysis of the results of published studies that investigated probiotics and weight loss was performed but proved inconclusive. This is in part because research methods varied greatly between studies and a variety of different probiotics were included.
“What is clear is that the most important factor determining the composition of the gut microbiome is diet. But, as stated earlier, this calls into question which comes first. Does obesity lead to certain types of microorganisms? Or does a certain type of microorganism lead to obesity? At this time, that is unknown.”
Dr. Shan also points out that taking steps to maintain a healthy gut microbiome can help you on your weight loss journey. For example, eating lots of fruits and vegetables seems to help the good bacteria in the gut thrive. And this can be beneficial for feeling full and limiting excessive intake of off-diet snacks and other unnecessary calories. Additionally, limiting animal-based fat, sugar, and protein can also help maintain a healthier gut microbiome, as research shows that diets high in these foods are linked to a more unfavorable gut bacterial makeup.
“Taking a probiotic supplement may also improve the health of your gut microbiome, but it’s unclear what role they play in weight loss. The most reliable way to lose weight is to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly so that you burn more calories than you consume. I always recommend that you ask your primary health care team specific questions about diet and exercise.” concludes.
