I read with interest this article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on the disrupted human gut microbiome and obesity. There is some data from animal models that disruption or alteration of the gut microbiome may increase obesity. This is likely not the main driver of obesity in industrialized nations.I find the argument put fort in The Case Against Sugar, by Gary Taubes, more compelling for explaining our expanding obesity problem.
Obesity does not just come from gluttony and sloth. In addition to genetic and environmental factors, the pervasive use and ever increasing consumption of sugar in the Western diet stimulates insulin secretion, which drives lipogenesis thus facilitating weight gain, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. In other words, sugar consumption is in part causal of diabetes and obesity.
Obesity, a disease of modernity, arises not just from a calorie/expenditure imbalance. Overconsumption of sugar leads to metabolic changes and hormonal changes (elevated insulin) which drive lipogenesis.
Food for thought.
