Gut Microbiome Could Make Weight Loss Easier for Some
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If you have a gut feeling something is preventing you from losing as much weight as you would like to, you could be right. Researchers found that the gut microbiome — the bacteria that help digest food and absorb nutrients in the intestines — can influence attempts at weight loss. They identified genes within these bacteria that determine how quickly the bacteria grow, how well people can take advantage of nutrients in food, and whether starches and fiber, in particular, get broken down into sugars too quickly to aid weight loss.
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@rajkamal Differences in 31 functional genes emerged from the gut microbiome in 48 people who lost 1% or more of their weight each month compared with 57 others whose weight remained the same. These findings came from stool samples taken 6 to 12 months after people started a commercial weight loss coaching program.