Research
Energy balance
Antibiotic exposure, particularly in infancy, is associated with long-term reduction in bacterial diversity and increased risk of weight gain and obesity.
If you or your child must take antibiotics, be aware it may impact weight and gut health long-term. Post-treatment, focus on prebiotic fibers to help restore bacterial diversity.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Thuny et al has shown that the use of intravenous treatment by vancomycin plus gentamycin has been associated with a major and significant weight gain [31]. Link between antibiotics and weight gain is also well documented in infants as well, for example, Saari et al has linked antibiotic exposure during the first 6 months of age to weight gain in healthy children [32].
Why this rating
Observational associations are strong, but causality in humans is complex.
Source
The role of Gut Microbiota in the development of obesity and Diabetes
Othman A. Baothman et al. · Lipids in Health and Disease · 2016
DOI 10.1186/s12944-016-0278-4
narrative_reviewCited 495×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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