Powerful Probiotics: Boosting your Gut to Beat Obesity

If you have ever gotten your height and weight growth curve checked by a doctor, one thing they are assessing for is obesity. Obesity is affecting an increasingly large percentage of the U.S. population, including 41.9% of adults and 19.7% of children according to the CDC. It is a global health concern as it increases a person’s risk for developing metabolic syndrome, leading to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and Type 2 Diabetes.

The onset of obesity results from a complex combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. The exact amount of fat that classifies a person as obese varies by age, sex, and ethnicity, so it is important to investigate the individual holistically. Although people are often categorized as obese regarding their BMI, obesity is more than just excess weight– it is a chronic disease that has been scientifically proven to not be effectively cured by weight loss alone. There are a variety of strategies aimed at the prevention and treatment of obesity, some of which include adjusting nutritional intake and lifestyle adjustments to achieve longevity of results. With the right ingredients, studies show that diet-induced obesity may be combated by the ingestion of probiotics.

The Probiotic Impact

The gut is more than just a food digestion site. Our GI tract is populated by trillions of friendly microorganisms, critically influencing our overall health and well-being.

Probiotics are a blend of living “good” bacteria for the gut. They can be found in food such as yogurt or in over-the-counter capsules. These bacteria strains boost metabolism in numerous ways, including the digestion of carbs, making essential vitamins (K, B7, B9, B12), and helping our body absorb magnesium, iron, and calcium. Probiotic bacteria also make and send an army of molecules (ex. SCFA) that interact with receptors in the GI tract, assisting with cell communication. By boosting cell to cell interactions, probiotics improve the function of the gut, the brain, and the immune system. Since the brain connects to the gut by the enteric nervous system, supporting our microbiome in turn supports our mental health.

People with obesity have high levels of fat tissue, which has the potential to adversely affect health. This fatty tissue accumulation contributes to and may be a result of metabolic dysfunctions, as the microbiota composition of people with obesity often differs from those who are not obese. This is why medical doctors and scientists are starting to suggest taking probiotics, as it may support the gut’s metabolic needs.

When microbial dysbiosis occurs, meaning the healthy ratio of “good” to “bad” bacteria is disrupted, as seen in obesity, probiotics may be an intervention to alleviate the negative symptoms triggered. Other common symptoms of “bad” bacteria invasion or good bacteria depletion include gut pain, frequent bloating, chronic fatigue, and even depression. It is important to discuss your condition with your doctor, as different strains of bacteria are associated with certain health benefits. It is also recommended to consult with your doctor about starting probiotics even if you are not experiencing any symptoms of bacteria imbalance.

Research-backed strains include:

• Lactobacillus
• Bifidobacterium

These strains are antagonists of inflammatory signaling, support emotional regulation and relieve symptoms of anxiety. Due to their complementary beneficial roles, they can be taken together.

Taking probiotic supplements is a step in empowering people with obesity to take charge of their health from within by providing the essential building blocks. As research on the positive effects on probiotics in humans continues, we hope to gain a better understanding of the relationship between our gut and overall health to improve obesity prevention and management strategies.