Tag: Nutrition

Probiotics and Weight Loss

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Good Bacteria and Gut Health

I’m sure most of you know that our digestive system (especially the colon) is full of “friendly” bacteria.  We’re just beginning to understand their importance for overall health, especially in the immune system.

Eating yogurt is one way to facilitate a healthy balance of these microorganisms in your gut.  Probiotic supplements have also become more popular as we realize the importance of healthy bacteria.  I think these supplements are useful–especially if you are having digestive issues or have had to take antibiotics (which tend to kill both “good” and “bad” bacteria).

But I’ve also seen probiotic supplements marketed as weight loss aids.  One theory is they make the intestines less permeable and less able to absorb fat calories.

Do probiotic of supplements really help with weight loss?

Scientists recently did a meta-analysis of the current research regarding probiotic supplements and weight loss.  In case you aren’t familiar with the term, a meta-analysis means that researchers analyzed the data from several studies.  This means the findings should be more reliable than that of just one isolated study/experiment.   Here is their conclusion: “The meta-analysis of these data showed no significant effect of probiotics on body weight and BMI.”1 They did note, however, that the number and quality of the studies is limited at this point.

There’s no conclusive evidence that probiotics help with weight loss, but researchers have noted connections between gut microorganisms and metabolism.  There seems to be a link, for example, between the prevalence of certain intestinal bacteria with metabolic diseases (like diabetes). 2  Having said this, I don’t think we can even be sure if such links are cause or effect.  It’s entirely possible that bad eating habits (a high intake of sugar and processed carbohydrates) cause this before-mentioned prevalence.

Conclusion:

Right now there is not enough evidence to say probiotics help with weight loss.  But it isn’t a bad idea to use them–especially if you have recently taken antibiotics (for surgery, sickness, etc).  These supplements are inexpensive and useful for overall health.

Reference:

1. Nutr Res. 2015 May 21. pii: S0271-5317(15)00103-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2015.05.008. Probiotics for weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
2. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2015 Jun 17. Influence of the human intestinal microbiome on obesity and metabolic dysfunction.

My 600 lb Life

A while back I started watching The Learning Channel’s My 600 lb. Life.  This my_600_lb_lifeshow documents the lives of the super obese as they reach out to Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, one of the few physicians who performs bariatric surgery on patients their size.

Watching this show is both fascinating and a horrifying–like seeing a bloody road accident and being unable to avert your eyes.

The extreme nature of these patients’ condition leaves them with very limited mobility (some of them can’t even get out of bed) or quality of life.  It’s simply hard to fathom having a body that size or an addiction that is so crippling.

Here’s a theme I’ve noticed while watching this show: there tends to be a “perfect storm” of factors that combine to create a 600 lb. person.

1.  A genetic predisposition for obesity:  Needless to say, we don’t completely understand the role genetics plays in our body weight.  But most of the people featured on this show tend to come from families where obesity is a major problem.   This becomes painfully apparent when the patient’s parents, children or siblings are interviewed.  The patient often reports being overweight as long as he/she can remember.

2.  Enablers:  Even bedridden patients are able to get an endless supply of high-calorie foods delivered within arm’s length.  This is one of the most fascinating (and baffling) things to observe on the show.  Family members (spouses in particular) will give in to the patient’s demands for certain foods.  Family members, in fact, often sabotage the medical intervention designed to save their loved one.

3.  Traumatic events:  Many of the 600+ lb. patients have experienced some kind of trauma that escalated their weight gain (often it’s something that happened in childhood).  Some of the women featured on the show were molested or raped.  Others report gaining weight after losing a family member.  I don’t remember this kind of thing being a part of every story, but it was quite common.

Combine these three things and you get people crushed under the weight of their own gargantuan bodies, seemingly unable to stop consuming the thousands of calories that are slowly but surely killing them.

Bariatric surgery is not a “quick fix” for people suffering from this disease (due to the factors I’ve mentioned).  I remember one patient who made virtually no progress even after her stomach had been surgically reduced in size.  But it can be an effective tool for weight loss in those who would otherwise not have any hope of a normal life.

Watching these patients get the surgery and (hopefully) transform their lives is compelling.  I find this interesting as someone who studies both fitness and addiction.

There’s good news for those of us who watch this show:  TLC will be doing a fourth season, to be shown in 2016.