As strange as it may seem, the intestinal flora can be one of the main causes of weight gain. The closest example to support the association between infection and inflammation is the Helicobacter pylori germ, which causes most stomach ulcers.
Recently, a new medical term has been created that relates the microbiology of our body with weight gain: infectious obesity . As pointed out by the Spanish Society for the Study of Society (SEEDO), infectobesity tries to explain why some people increase their weight regardless of genetics and diet, focusing their attention on a different composition of the microorganisms present in their intestines . According to proponents of this link, obese people have a different bacterial flora that would process food differently, significantly influencing their weight gain.
“There are many cases that show that germs can cause weight gain in humans, such as Helicobacter pylori . It is estimated that 50% of the world’s population may be infected with H. pylori , although only 20% of people have symptoms. New evidence suggests that patients treated for the infection developed a significant weight gain compared to untreated subjects ”, points out Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real, partner at SEEDO.
In this regard, at San Diego State University (United States) they have just discovered a bacteriophage virus, called crAss-phage, which would be present in the intestinal microbiota of more than half of the world’s population and which affects intestinal bacteria most common, the ‘bacterioids’. The adenovirus AD-36, a common virus that causes colds, is another good example of this since it causes a greater division of adipocytes and favors the accumulation of fat.
“When the relationship between infection and obesity is analyzed, it is interesting to highlight how exposure to microorganisms is associated in parallel with an increase in inflammation and adiposity”, adds Fernández-Real. In any case, what is clear is that there are various genetic and habit causes of obesity.
