3 ms·

> people who are born with unusually efficient microbiomes Have you looked at obesity statistics? http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistic

by daenz 11y ago

> people who are born with unusually efficient microbiomes Have you looked at obesity statistics? http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/Pages/overweight-obesity-statistics.aspx http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistic... > More than 1 in 3 adults are considered to be obese. > More than 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be obese. Do you mean to say that 33% of quantifiably obese adults have unusually efficient gut bacteria? These aren't strange outliers, it's one third of the adult population.

dragonwriter 11y ago
> Do you mean to say that 33% of quantifiably obese adults have unusually efficient gut bacteria? Its not implausible that a substantial share of them do; there's a lot of interesting hints in recent research suggesting that elements of modern lifestyles in the US may have substantially affected gut microbiomes over the last several generations, starting with very early life changes that affect the way they get initially established. An important part of the obesity epidemic -- though almost certainly not its sole cause; diet and activity pattern changes with effects other than via the composition of the microbiome certainly exist -- may well be widespread disruption of normal gut microbiome.
DanBC 11y ago
One thing that changes gut flora is the amount of fibre a person eats. If a nation eats less fibre it makes sense that a large portion of that nation will experience changes in gut flora.
- DrScump 11y ago
  Not just amount of fiber, but makeup of the fiber (soluble vs insoluble, compatibility with gut bacteria, etc.)
DrScump 11y ago
You are putting words in his mouth here, as I read it, as you rely on your belief that obesity can only be the result of overeating. - The microbiome is a factor, which is only in the past few years being explored. - thyroid hormone levels are a big factor - genetics are a factor (note that identical twins raised in different environments tend to end up more alike each other in BMI than like their siblings in the same environment) - genetic low-response to cardio (check out the recent University of Bath study) - viruses are a factor (AD-36 being one known one) - percentage of BAT ("brown fat") is a factor - systemic inflammation is a factor etc. etc.

by daenz 11y ago

dragonwriter 11y ago

> Do you mean to say that 33% of quantifiably obese adults have unusually efficient gut bacteria? Its not implausible that a substantial share of them do; there's a lot of interesting hints in recent research suggesting that elements of modern lifestyles in the US may have substantially affected gut microbiomes over the last several generations, starting with very early life changes that affect the way they get initially established. An important part of the obesity epidemic -- though almost certainly not its sole cause; diet and activity pattern changes with effects other than via the composition of the microbiome certainly exist -- may well be widespread disruption of normal gut microbiome.

DanBC 11y ago

One thing that changes gut flora is the amount of fibre a person eats. If a nation eats less fibre it makes sense that a large portion of that nation will experience changes in gut flora.

DrScump 11y ago
Not just amount of fiber, but makeup of the fiber (soluble vs insoluble, compatibility with gut bacteria, etc.)

DrScump 11y ago

You are putting words in his mouth here, as I read it, as you rely on your belief that obesity can only be the result of overeating. - The microbiome is a factor, which is only in the past few years being explored. - thyroid hormone levels are a big factor - genetics are a factor (note that identical twins raised in different environments tend to end up more alike each other in BMI than like their siblings in the same environment) - genetic low-response to cardio (check out the recent University of Bath study) - viruses are a factor (AD-36 being one known one) - percentage of BAT ("brown fat") is a factor - systemic inflammation is a factor etc. etc.