In other words, if you gain weight easily, your gut microbiome might just be really, really good at its job. Researchers measured the leftover energy in study participants’ excreted matter (ahem, their poop) to estimate how well their gut bacteria extracted energy from their meals, all while closely studying the types of microbes in each of their guts. The scientists found that approximately 40% of the participants had gut microbial makeups that extracted energy more efficiently. That group of people also tended to weigh about 20 pounds more. “We may have found a key to understanding why some people gain more weight than others, even when they don’t eat more or any differently,” Henrik Roager, Ph.D., a study author, said in a statement. The study results also contribute to a growing body of evidence pointing toward bio-individuality, or the concept that our bodies are all uniquely complex, and what creates change for one person may have the opposite effect for another—or have no effect at all. (Just consider one 2016 study in Nutrition & Metabolism that found that mice that received a gut bacteria transplant2 from leaner mice lost weight.) However, it’s too early to tell whether this study proves direct causation. “It is very interesting that the group of people who have less energy left in their stool also weigh more on average. However, this study doesn’t provide proof that the two factors are directly related. We hope to explore this more in the future,” says Roager. Fortunately, there are a few ways to support your gut health that might be in favor of weight loss goals. Exercise and diet play a huge role in your microbiome, and taking a daily probiotic supplement can help encourage a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut, which has been connected to a healthy weight. Here are a few probiotic supplements that are teeming with beneficial bacteria. There’s a lot more to learn, but some beneficial bacteria may help directly counter the effects of hyper-efficient gut bacteria and other weight-gain-promoting factors.
