Gut Bacteria Cause Overeating in Mice

[n2doc]

By Brandon Keim March 4, 2010 | 2:04 pm | Categories: Biology, Health


The connection between gut bacteria and obesity has gained some weight, with new findings demonstrating links in mice among immune-system malfunction, bacterial imbalance and increased appetite.

Mice with altered immune systems developed metabolic disorders and were prone to overeating. When microbes from their stomachs were transplanted into other mice, they also become obese.

“This supports the notion that some of the increase in obesity may be because of changes to gut bacteria,” said Andrew Gewirtz, an Emory University immunologist and co-author of the study, published March 4 in Science.

The findings are the latest in a growing body of research about the long-unappreciated role of bacteria in our bodies. Bacterial cells actually outnumber human cells in the body: From an outside perspective, people are not so much individual organisms as symbiotic human-bacteria collectives.



Read More http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/03/bacteria-obesity/

gotta love puns stuck into the article...

[Ferret Annica]

1. I always thought this could be what caused the same problem in humans

Now there is scientific basis to do research into this.

[dkf]

2. Is it in wine?

I swear ever since I started appreciating how good wine makes food taste I have been gaining weight.

[Kali]

3. this is so fascinating

both from a weight-loss perspective but especially from an evolutionary one as well.

[lib_wit_it]

4. Oh please--these mice are just pigs! Why don't they learn a little self-control and maybe get up off

the couch now and then?!

:sarcasm:

[tinrobot]

5. This finding could also implicate antibiotics.

Antibiotics in food can easily kill beneficial gut bacteria.