Research

Mixed

High-fat diet consumption induces gut microbiota dysbiosis (decreased Bacteroidetes, increased Firmicutes), which promotes obesity and chronic disease risk through enhanced energy harvest and gut permeability.

Focus on the quality of fats in your diet, not just the total calories. High-fat diets can alter your gut bacteria in ways that promote fat storage and inflammation. Reducing processed high-fat foods may help restore a healthier gut microbiome, potentially aiding weight management and reducing chronic disease risk.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
HFD consumption generally leads to a decrease in Bacteroidetes and an increase in Firmicutes, alterations that have been associated with obesity and subsequent development of chronic diseases. Potential mechanisms for this effect include an improved capacity for energy harvest and storage, and enhanced gut permeability and inflammation.
E. Angela Murphy et al. · Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care · 2015

Why this rating

Based on a review of multiple animal studies and human observational data, though causality in humans is still being established.

Source

Influence of high-fat diet on gut microbiota

E. Angela Murphy et al. · Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care · 2015

DOI 10.1097/mco.0000000000000209

narrative_reviewCited 494×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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