Fat people with guts
<!--
google_ad_client = "pub-0856505169071067";
google_ad_width = 300;
google_ad_height = 250;
google_ad_format = "300x250_as";
google_ad_type = "text";
google_color_border = "FFFFFF";
google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";
google_color_link = "E50000";
google_color_text = "E50000";
google_color_url = "333333";
google_ui_features = "rc:0";
//-->
Washington, Jan 20 : Bacteria
in the gut which are crucial to the body''s ability to turn food into
energy could explain why some people become obese and others don't,
according to a new study.
The study suggests that the composition of microbes within the gut
may hold a key to one cause of obesity-and the prospect of future
treatment.
Researchers at Arizona State University''s Biodesign Institute in
collaboration with colleagues at the Mayo Clinic, Arizona, and the
University of Arizona, recruited 9 middle-aged volunteers in three
groups-normal weight, morbidly obese and following gastric bypass
surgery-to participate in the study.
The research team''s central hypothesis is that differing microbial
populations in the gut allow the body to harvest more energy, making
people more susceptible to developing obesity.
These small differences can, over time, profoundly affect an individual''s weight.
Supporting this view is the study''s confirmation that the microbial
composition among obese patients appears significantly altered compared
with both normal weight individuals and those who have undergone
gastric bypass surgery.
However, the researchers stress that the study is preliminary, but were encouraged by the findings from their small sample.
Future investigation is needed to establish the differences in
composition of gut microbiota across different age groups and under
varying weight-loss regimens involving diet and exercise.
The study has been published in the January 19 early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. (ANI).
[source: here]
Posted by pui-chee
at 10:07 PM EADT
Today marks the day where Australia day and CNY of the Ox falls on the same day. It is also the day that the new Australian of the year , Professor Dodson has called on the government to change the date as it is the same date that the First Fleet landed on Sydney Cove to began the colony and this raises the question of the "stolen generations" of the indigneous aboriginals.