NPR
by Allison Aubrey

Ever been on a diet but didn't hit your goal weight? Your gut bacteria may be part of the explanation. New research suggests the mix of microbes in our guts can either help — or hinder — weight-loss efforts. "We tarted with the premise that people have different microbial make-ups, and this could influence how well they do with dieting," explains Purna Kashyap, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

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Additional coverage:
Washington Times, Gut bacteria a factor in weight loss, study shows by Laura Kelly — The diet plateau is a dreaded phenomenon where people trying to lose weight will suddenly and seemingly without reason stop seeing the numbers on the scale drop as consistently as they had previously. While nutritionists will chalk this up to one’s body adjusting to a new weight, with metabolism slowing to accommodate the new reality, new research suggests that bacteria in our guts influences weight loss and gain. In a study by researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, a small sample of participants were put on a diet regimen, and those who lost 5 percent of their body weight were also found to have an abundance of a particular bacteria compared to those who were not as successful in their weight loss; Tech Times

CBC/Radio-Canada, Darn gut bacteria might be thwarting your weight loss efforts — A whopping 54 per cent of Canadians over the age of 18 self-reported as overweight or obese in 2014, according to Statistics Canada. And many feel like it's an uphill battle no matter what they do… Now, Dr. Vandana Nehra, a gastroenterologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic's College of Medicine, and her team have figured out why some people might have a harder time slimming down than others. By examining the gut bacteria of obese patients in a weight loss program, Nehra thinks certain microbes could be wrecking all their hard work.

Context: A preliminary study published in the August issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that, for some people, specific activities of gut bacteria may be responsible for their inability to lose weight, despite adherence to strict diet and exercise regimens. “We know that some people don’t lose weight as effectively as others, despite reducing caloric consumption and increasing physical activity,” says Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and co-senior author of the study. Dr. Kashyap and his colleagues wondered if there may be other factors at work that prevented these patients from responding to traditional weight-loss strategies. You can read more about this study on Mayo Clinic New Network.

Contact: Joe Dangor

Tags: diet, Dr. Purna Kashyap, Dr. Vandana Nehra, gut bacteria, NPR, Nutrition, Uncategorized