Bacteria Promotes Obesity

Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Up to 67% of adults (20+) are overweight or obese according to the CDC. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles, California presented data linking bacteria to the likelihood of being obese at Digestive Disease Week in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The investigation was led by Dr. Mark Pimentel, director of the GI Motility Program at Cedars-Sinai. The study discovered that the existance of bacteria that produce methane in the stomach was indicative of obese subjects. Their methods involved giving a breath test to subjects with Body Mass Indexes (BMIs) between 30 and 60 (30+ is considered obese), looking for the presence of methane in their exhalation. The results of these tests were that 20% of the patients were “methane-positive”, and that these patients had a BMI up to 7 points greater than the methane-negatives.

The explanation as to why methane gas would contribute to the obesity of the patient is that the methane has the ability to slow the gut down; increasing the "calorie harvest" and ultimately leading to a higher BMI.

The findings of this study are important because they can lead to novel medical techniques and strategies in helping to treat obesity. Furthermore, they further our understanding of the complexities involved in this growing problem.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100506090937.htm