Engineered bacteria may help lose weight, fight harmful effects of obesity

Obesity is one of the major health problems in the 21st century as people have been trying to combat it by fitness regimes, diet plans and medical treatment. Among many solutions to excess weight gain, a new treatment being developed through gut bacteria seems like a promising option.

A study has found that administering engineered bacteria in the guts of mice can prevent weight gain, along with keeping negative health effects of obesity at bay. Researchers engineered gut bacteria which produce a small lipid that helps suppress appetite and reduce inflammation.

The lipid is normally made in the small intestine and its production is relatively low in case of obese people. Sean Davies, Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, US said, "Because of the sustainability of gut bacteria, this treatment would not need to be every day."

They fed mice a high fat diet along with engineered bacteria given through water after which the mice seemed to gain less weight than those which were given standard water or control bacteria.

Mice with risk of fatty liver disease were also given the same bacteria and it was observed that they accumulated less fat in the liver and showed less indications of liver fibrosis.

Davies said, "Some day in the future, it might be possible to treat the worst effects of obesity simply by administering these bacteria."