SubscribeMicro-Organisms and Obesity
Research into the causes of obesity continues unabated. Science is now looking well beyond the aspects of diet and exercise. The new frontier is made up of genetic and viral factors - and even micro-organisms in the gut.
The NY Times magazine delves deeply into the subject in the article Fat Factors.
To explain how micro-organisms could affect weight gain, scientist Jeffrey Gordon uses an analogy of Cheerios cereal.
The cereal box says that a one-cup serving contains 110 calories. But it may be that not everyone will extract 110 calories from a cup of Cheerios. Some may extract more, some less, depending on the particular combination of microbes in their guts. “A diet has a certain amount of absolute energy,” he said. “But the amount that can be extracted from that diet may vary between individuals — not in a huge way, but if the energy balance is affected by just a few calories a day, over time that can make a big difference in body weight.”
On the Fringe?
There is something faintly disturbing about this kind of research. I have no doubts that there are a minority of people who could point to microbial activity in the intestinal tract as a cause of weight gain.
It seems to me, however, that increasing amounts of funding dollars are getting poured into 'fringe' research. This research takes the emphasis off of our highly-processed food supply - and the behavioral issues we have with our over-indulgent lifestyles.
"I still have to diet"
The NY Times mentions a woman, Janet, who struggles to maintain weight - even 30 years after surgery. “I definitely have to diet — damn it, I should have a pass on that, don’t you think?” says Janet. Janet "can never enjoy food with complete and carefree abandon." Surely that depends on exactly what that food is. Eating nutrient-dense, lower-calorie food doesn't have to be a chore or a "diet".
By no means do I dismiss the complex biochemical factors that can play a role in fat gain. However there is a difficult balance here - it is very easy to tip the scales away from behavioral issues.
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I agree, but this study does raise one important point - all diets are unique, the reasons for going into them and the reasons for being 'overweight' are all dependent upon your own personal reasons. A greater focus on individualising diets will help people control their weight in the long term.
ReplyMicro-organisms definitely can play a role in one's diet and how well one tolerates certain foods. It's definitely one reason that some people can eat broccoli and not get gas while others bloat up like a balloon after eating a little of it. It's also a matter of enzymes in the gut as well. Some people produce more of certain enzymes than others do. For example...if you didn't produce any amylase, you'd have a hard time digesting sugars and a high sugar diet would probably make you lose weight because you weren't getting all the energy from the sugar. Studies like this could be really key for future nutritional work. You could get your "micro-organisms" analyzed as well as get a genetic fingerprint as to which enzymes you make more of and get a customized diet that could help keep you near your ideal weight.
ReplyI also agree that all diets are unique. Each person should at least find the cause of the obesity to find out the best way to diet. This will ease the process and might reduce stress of the dieter.
Either micro-organism or not that causes the obesity, it should be checked out first before deciding to diet.
ReplyLet's not forget that once upon a time the concept that bacteria caused many stomach ulcers was also considered a waste of time and effort for research study and even after identified the researchers were maligned, disparaged and dismissed as kooks!
IMO...A poor diet can influence the immune system ability to recognize and support the good micro-organisms and recognize and destroy the bad. It might not be that you "catch" an infection that makes you obese, but, in time we may have a greater understanding of how a nutrient-deficient diet fosters/bolsters the negative effect of bacteria/viruses that a healthy immune system given a nutrient-rich diet would fend off.
ReplyAll really good input here and I agree with them all. In my opinion, based on a lot of info from Germany and elsewhere in Europe, the enzyme factor is a major key. Not only to digestion but general immune system balance and this of course includes micro-organisms as well.
I think research looking into micro-organisms/obesity though interesting still deflects from the main problem: poor nutritional choices result in poor digestive/intestinal/immunological health. All self imposed health problems.
Earlier generations in the US did not have such obesity levels as today. Nor did most of Europe. We see 'over here' in Europe alarmingly increasing levels of obesity. Why? Adaption of an American influenced diet and lifestyle i.e. processed food as a way of life and less exercise and microwave oven products. Not by all, but surely by the post-baby boomer generations.
ReplyI am not a strong believer in conventional diet program but it's is an excellent start towards learning healthy eating habits. All the diet focus on strong points that have truth in them when looking at it short-term but when combining these diets of their pros it gives you healthier guidelines for healthy eating.
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