Research

Energy balance

Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with a gut microbiota profile characterized by a lower proportion of Bacteroidetes and a higher proportion of Firmicutes/Actinobacteria, which may contribute to increased energy harvest and inflammation via lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation.

Obesity is linked to specific gut bacteria profiles that may increase energy harvest and inflammation. While you cannot directly 'eat' these bacteria, you can influence them by adopting a diet rich in diverse plant fibers, which promotes a healthier microbiota profile associated with better metabolic health. Focus on long-term dietary patterns rather than quick fixes.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
They found that individuals with high BMIs had a lower proportion of Bacteroidetes and a higher proportion of Actinobacteria when compared to leaner individuals... This phenotypic independent association of the microbiota was demonstrated using Sprague-Dawley rats that were found to be obesity-prone or obesity-resistant, depending on their microbiota composition.
Ian B. Jeffery et al. · Nutrients · 2013

Why this rating

Based on animal models and some human studies, but with conflicting results in other human cohorts (some studies show no association or opposite associations).

Source

Diet-Microbiota Interactions and Their Implications for Healthy Living

Ian B. Jeffery et al. · Nutrients · 2013

DOI 10.3390/nu5010234

narrative_reviewCited 199×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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