The wrong gut bacteria

Your gut, particularly your colon, is home to hundreds of different types of bacteria. While some of these bacteria are beneficial to health, others might be problematic.

Some studies indicate that an unhealthy balance of gut bacteria may encourage weight gain, particularly abdominal fat. Particularly, increased weight and visceral fat are linked to having a larger ratio of Firmicutes bacteria to Bacteroidetes. It is believed that changes in bacterial variety can affect how nutrients and calories are metabolized, increase inflammation, and modify how hormones are regulated, all of which can result in weight gain. A probiotic containing five strains of "good" bacteria was shown to significantly lower body fat percentage and visceral fat in a randomized, double-blind, 12-week study of obese postmenopausal women.