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This is why you�re fat� and it�s not over eating
by Edward Morgan
In the last few years scientists around the world have begun to discover the remarkable
truth behind why so many of us are fat � and getting fatter..
..and it�s not why we thought
There was much talk some years ago about our genes making us fat � for some people this
even became an excuse. It was something I heard a lot � �it�s not my fault, it�s
my genes � I was born that way�.
�it�s not my fault, it�s my genes � I was born that way�
Well for the most part it was an excuse � and while there are some interesting discoveries
linked to our genes � including some linked to body weight, actually 99.9% of our DNA
is identical to our neighbour whether they�re fat or thin.
However looking back at this now � there is some truth to it, only it�s not your
genes making you fat, but the genes and make up of the bacteria and microbes that live
inside you.
Each of us is home to huge numbers of bacteria and micro organisms that live mainly in our
intestines. Counter to popular perception only a small fractions of bacteria are bad
for us � most are harmless and some are actually very useful. These strains help us
digest our food, fight infections and generally keep us healthy. In fact they�ve evolved
with us and shaped us � without them we wouldn�t exist.
Although we�ve known about the existence of these microbes for some time, scientists
havent paid them much attention until recently.
Its only in the last fifteen years that scientists around the world have started to investigate
these bacteria and microbes properly and discover some remarkable secrets about them. How they
influence our health, and disease, our weight, even our mood and mental health are shaped
by them.
This emerging field of research is hugely complex, challenging some of the greatest
minds to piece together exactly how this is happening � but essentially it is changes
to the make up of microbes inside us that is making so many of us fat, and ill�
Ever wondered why some people never put on weight?
Ever wondered why some people don't get fat?
Maybe you have a friend � or colleague � who eats the same diet as you or worse � and
never puts on an inch of fat?
My sister is one of these people. She eats everything she shouldn�t. She snacks constantly
between meals. Her diet consists of cake, more cake, sweets, doughnuts, burgers, soft
drinks � basically anything bad.
..And yet she has never put on an inch of fat, unlike me.
Well it�s not down to her genes, but now considered to be because she is one of a lucky
few blessed with a particular make up of gut bacteria and microbes that keeps her slim.
Unlike the rest of us � for us it�s a daily battle to keep the fat and the weight
off
So if gut bacteria is making us fat, can we get rid of them?
Not really � we need them � or at least we need most of them. Even some of the ones
that make us fat help us in other ways. Many of these microbes � a combination of bacteria,
viruses, fungi and other organisms � have been with us since birth and the vast majority
of them are beneficial. There are hundreds of different strains and they all behave in
slightly different ways � but collectively they do us a lot of good:
They digest food for us � producing vitamins and nutrients for the body
They educate our immune system � helping our white blood cells fight infection
They fight off some invaders themselves � preventing pathogens from colonizing
And they also influence our brain and our metabolism � affecting our mood and our
weight However this all depends on having the right
mix of species � kind of like a rainforest. When there are too many of the wrong species
growing out of hand then everything starts to go wrong.. And this is because they also
affect
How much energy we extract from our food How much energy we burn
How much fat we store How hungry we are and the types of foods we
crave So why do we have these �bad� microbes?
Well there are a few possible causes � some aren�t your fault.
You may be able to blame some of this on the microbes you inherited from your mother � or
the way you were born and fed and your upbringing � or if you were treated with antibiotics
in early childhood � all of these factors are thought to play a role
Then there are other factors which you have more influence over � such as your lifestyle;
how much you exercise, how mush sleep your getting, how much stress you�re under, your
environment, even your friends (surprisingly we tend to inherit and share our microbes
with our friends and family!)
and last of all your diet.. and here�s why
It�s the food you eat � not the calories that count
Ok calories count a bit � but not as much as you think.. it�s the type of foods that
matter
It�s the food you eat - not the calories that count
It�s the food you eat � not the calories that count
Hopefully you know about the foods you shouldn�t eat � all the fun stuff, the fast foods,
takeaways, pizzas, ice creams etc � but you still indulge (and so do I) � they are
guilty pleasures that we often crave. We also have cravings for all sorts of packaged foods
� from crisps and snacks, chicken nuggets, soft drinks and even ready-meals.
Well what you may not know is that these cravings are no accident � they are driven by certain
strains of your gut bacteria � strains linked with obesity and diabetes � that influence
your brain telling you to eat more. (They are also driven by addictive stimulants added
to these foods which you can learn more about here)
So how can these �bad� microbes make you fat?
All the wrong types of bacteria thrive on the sugar and saturated fat found in your
favourite junk foods � and so when you consume a lot of this food � or pretty much anything
packaged or processed for that matter � these types of bacteria and microbes thrive and
multiply � and then the cravings get louder, the more you eat these foods and the more
you feed them.. A vicious cycle In the meantime all the really good bacteria
� that live off fibre and plant matter � are getting less of the food they need and getting
crowded out by the bad guys, upsetting the delicate balance of species in your gut..
So why is this bad? Researchers have found that when the wrong
types of bacteria take over � your body starts to extract more energy from your food,
and store more energy as fat � while using up less energy � making you lethargic and
less active.
When scientists examine the bacteria in fat people and thin people they can see this difference
in gut bacteria with over 90% accuracy
So can you change your gut bacteria to become thin?
Yes � although its not as simple as just taking probiotics alone.
To improve the make up of your gut bacteria you need to make changes to many aspects of
your lifestyle as well as your diet � for example a lack of sleep and stress have been
found to be as harmful as a bad diet. Exercise also plays a significant role in improving
the make up of your gut bacteria.
Meanwhile if your immune system is suffering, be careful � a single course of antibiotics
can wipe out vast numbers of our gut bacteria � another factor that can set our delicate
ecosystem off balance.
It takes some effort and it�s not as simple as a quick fix.. if you revert to your old
ways, the bad microbes quickly return and so will the weight.
To learn more about these gut bugs and how they can help you shed the weight, read our
guide to restoring healthy gut flora