{"id":19062,"date":"2026-01-26T14:30:56Z","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T13:30:56Z","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/?p=19062"},"modified":"2026-01-29T14:20:19Z","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:20:19Z","slug":"obesity-diabetes-microbiome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/blog\/obesity-diabetes-microbiome\/","title":{"rendered":"Obesity, diabetes and the microbiome"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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We live in an age in which the number of people who are overweight is rising<\/strong> at an alarming rate. That our society has a serious weight problem<\/strong> has become the norm for us \u2013 just like the repeated warnings from medical professionals.<\/p>

There is no need to look across to the United States, where fast food and XL-sized soft drinks<\/strong> are part of everyday life: the figures here in Europe are already cause for concern. More than 50% of people in Europe are overweight or obese<\/strong> \u2013 despite decades of health initiatives.<\/p>

What is particularly worrying is that more and more children are affected<\/strong>. Statistics from the UK show that around one in seven children<\/strong> (15%) aged between two and 15 were obese<\/strong> in 2022, and this number is only on the rise.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n More than 50% of people in Europe are overweight or obese, and one in seven children in the UK (15%) aged between 2 and 15 were obese in 2022. <\/div>\n
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Particularly problematic are the secondary and associated conditions<\/strong> caused by excess body fat and the metabolic changes that come with it. People who are overweight are considered to be at especially high risk of developing metabolic syndrome<\/a><\/strong>. This condition is characterised by severe overweight with excess abdominal fat<\/strong>, high blood pressure<\/strong>, raised blood lipid levels and elevated blood sugar levels.<\/p>

This is not a marginal issue. In the UK, it is estimated that around 20\u201325% of the population (one in four adults)<\/strong> is affected. The risk of further long-term conditions is also significantly increased: around half of those with metabolic syndrome go on to develop cardiovascular disease<\/strong> later in life, while approximately three-quarters develop type 2 diabetes<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Causes of diabetes & obesity<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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An unhealthy lifestyle is considered to be the main cause of these worrying lifestyle-related diseases<\/strong>: too little physical activity<\/strong> in everyday life combined with the so-called Western diet<\/strong>. This industrialised way of eating is characterised by excessive consumption of processed foods, meat, fat<\/a>, sugar and salt<\/strong> \u2013 habits we have all become far too accustomed to. So accustomed, in fact, that the question remains whether it is even possible to reverse this trend.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Does the microbiome influence metabolism?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Who hasn\u2019t caught themselves assuming that people who are overweight lack willpower or are simply lazy, because they fail to follow the supposedly effective formula of \u201cfewer calories equals less weight\u201d?<\/strong> In principle, this idea is not wrong: anyone who maintains a balanced energy intake<\/strong> \u2013 consuming no more energy than their body uses at rest \u2013 will remain slim.<\/p>

But, as Professor Vanessa Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner, gastroenterologist and hepatologist at the Medical University of Graz, explains: \u201cObesity is a complex problem, not merely a matter of balancing calorie intake and expenditure.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

Obesity develops through the interaction of genetic predisposition, poor diet, lack of physical activity, stress, environmental influences and psychological factors.<\/strong> While this combination of causes is now largely understood, effective, side-effect-free treatments are still the subject of global research. This is where the microbiome plays a key role<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n Highly processed food leads to increased calorie intake. <\/div>\n
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Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner has been researching the interactions between medication, disease and the gut microbiome<\/a><\/strong> for many years and explains the connection as follows: \u201cOur diet, with its excessive amounts of sugar and fat, alters the diversity and composition of our gut bacteria<\/a>.<\/strong> This, in turn, has negative effects on sugar and fat metabolism \u2013 and ultimately leads to weight gain<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>

More specifically, endotoxins (bacterial toxins) from the gut enter the body through a damaged intestinal barrier<\/strong>, triggering increased cytokine release and, as a result, systemic inflammatory responses. This creates a negative spiral that can lead to insulin resistance and continued weight gain<\/strong>.<\/p>

Conversely \u2013 and this is also supported by studies \u2013 the composition of the microbiome can be improved again through dietary changes<\/strong> and increased physical activity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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More calories from ready meals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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To understand the complexity of these relationships, it is important to recognise that when it comes to nutrition, it is not only the number of calories that matters, but also how those calories are processed<\/strong>. In one experiment, healthy participants were given food over a 14-day period containing identical proportions of sugar, carbohydrates, fibre, fat and salt. One group received the food in an unprocessed form, while the other was given ready-made meals.<\/p>

In the latter group, participants consumed around 500 extra calories per day<\/strong> and gained approximately 1 kg in weight over the two weeks. This clearly shows that highly processed foods lead to increased calorie intake<\/strong>.<\/p>

\u201cWhy this happens has not yet been fully researched. It is likely that our bodies misjudge highly processed foods, or that the feeling of fullness sets in later<\/strong>,\u201d explains Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Weight gain due to the microbiome<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Research findings also show that an unfavourably composed microbiome can contribute to excess weight<\/a><\/strong>. \u201cThis is an indication that the microbiome plays a causal role in weight gain<\/strong>,\u201d says Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner. She is referring to a Harvard study in which the gut microbiomes of human twin pairs were analysed \u2013 one twin lean, the other overweight.<\/p>

The overweight participants showed a significantly reduced diversity and altered composition of gut bacteria, with an excess of so-called Firmicutes<\/em> bacteria and too few Bacteroidetes<\/em> bacteria.<\/strong><\/p>

To investigate this further, the gut microbiome of the lean twin was transplanted into one group of germ-free mice, while the microbiome of the overweight twin was transferred to another group of mice.<\/p>

Both groups were then fed the same diet. The groundbreaking finding was that the mice that received the microbiome from the overweight twins gained significantly more weight than those given the microbiome of the lean twins<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Survival mode<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This may help to explain why some people lose little or no weight despite changing their diet. \u201cThere are individuals with a particular microbiome composition that makes it easier to gain weight when there is an excess of calories.<\/strong> Several hundred years ago, this was a genuine evolutionary advantage<\/strong>, as it helped people survive periods of food scarcity. Today, however, in an era of food abundance<\/strong> in the Western world, it has become a disadvantage.\u201d<\/p>

It is well known that Firmicutes<\/em> bacteria<\/a> are able to extract calories even from indigestible fibre<\/strong>. Bacteroidetes<\/em>, by contrast, encapsulate unused carbohydrates, allowing them to be excreted in the stool<\/strong>. As a result, the microbiome of an efficient \u201cenergy harvester\u201d can extract up to 30% more calories from the same amount of food than the gut bacteria of lean individuals.<\/p>

These findings highlight the significant potential of the microbiome in the treatment of disorders of fat and sugar metabolism, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Positive effects on metabolism<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The primary treatment for obesity is a change in lifestyle<\/strong>, combining dietary changes with increased physical activity. Intermittent fasting<\/strong>\u00a0can lead to successful weight loss, and the associated health benefits are supported by research. Intermittent fasting not only improves the composition of the microbiome \u2013 leading to increased production of anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids<\/strong> \u2013 but also triggers a \u201cbrowning\u201d of white fat tissue. Brown fat is associated with a higher basal metabolic rate<\/strong>, which in turn makes weight loss easier.<\/p>

A recently conducted study involving people with type 1 diabetes (the form of diabetes in which the body produces little or no insulin) even showed that intermittent fasting can reduce the body\u2019s insulin requirements. However, diets such as intermittent fasting are difficult to maintain in everyday life over the long term. Eating is about more than nutrient intake alone<\/strong>; it also fulfils social and psychological needs such as socialising, reward, relaxation and distraction. As a result, only a small proportion of people manage to maintain their new weight in the long term after successful weight loss.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Weight loss injections & stool transplants<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cBecause the basal metabolic rate is reduced, long-term success tends to be limited. When someone loses a large amount of weight, their entire metabolic situation changes, and they absorb more energy from food than they did before losing weight.<\/strong> This is the well-known yo-yo effect<\/strong>, which is also well documented scientifically,\u201d explains Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner.<\/p>

It is therefore unsurprising that those affected place their hopes in supposedly \u201csimple\u201d weight-loss solutions such as pills or so-called weight-loss injections<\/strong>, or even opt for surgical interventions such as gastric bypass operations \u2013 despite the risk of serious side effects and complications. It should also be remembered that treatment only begins once the problem already exists.<\/p>

For this reason, the expert believes that prevention at a societal level<\/strong> is at least equally important. \u201cThe food industry has a vested interest in conditioning us to foods high in sugar and fat<\/strong>, so that we constantly crave them,\u201d says Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner. \u201cThat is why preventive measures are extremely important.\u201d<\/p>

One topic that has attracted both fascination and unease in recent years is faecal\/stool transplantation<\/strong>. Given the sheer number of people affected, the physician sees this less as a suitable form of therapy and more as a way to further explore the links between the microbiome and obesity or diabetes.<\/p>

To give one example, in a research study, stool from healthy, non-diabetic donors was transplanted into people with diabetes, resulting in a measurable improvement in insulin resistance<\/strong>. In another case, stool from an overweight individual was transplanted into a healthy person, after which the recipient gained weight. As a result, current guidelines now stipulate that only healthy donors may be approved for stool donation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n In several clinical studies, the administration of probiotics resulted in a trend towards weight loss. <\/div>\n
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Probiotics as an effective option<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Microbiome changes<\/strong> are very similar across the range of conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. This means that improving the composition of the microbiome represents a promising future treatment approach<\/strong>. Several clinical studies have shown that the use of probiotics<\/a> can lead to a trend towards weight loss.<\/strong><\/p>

In addition, positive effects on BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage<\/strong>, as well as sugar and fat metabolism have been demonstrated. It has been shown that a treatment duration of six months produces stronger effects than three months, and higher probiotic doses were also associated with better outcomes.<\/p>

What is now needed is the right step from theory into everyday clinical practice<\/strong>. \u201cThere must be consensus recommendations<\/strong>: what diagnostic conclusions can be drawn from the microbiome?\u201d Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner points out. Research must also continue to provide robust clinical data so that microbiome-based treatment using medically relevant probiotics<\/strong> can be included among treatments recognised by social health insurance providers \u2013 and therefore made accessible to everyone.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n \"\" <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vanessa Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner <\/div>\n
\n Associate Professor Dr. Vanessa Stadlbauer-K\u00f6llner is a specialist at the Clinical\nDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and head of the Transplantation Research unit at the Medical University of Graz. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We live in an age in which the number of people who are overweight is rising at an alarming rate. That our society has a serious weight problem has become the norm for us \u2013 just like the repeated warnings from medical professionals. There is no need to look across to the United States, where […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":19064,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[115,213,108,107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-children","category-diet","category-family"],"acf":[],"rank_math":{"og:title":"Obesity, diabetes & the microbiome - Probiotics approach","og:desc":"More and more people are obese, and the trend continues to rise. Many suffer from diabetes and other related diseases. Probiotics could be a promising option.","og:url":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/blog\/obesity-diabetes-microbiome\/","og:locale":"en_150","og:image":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/01\/diabetes-obesity-1.jpg","og:image:width":"700","og:image:height":"500"},"additional_data":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/01\/diabetes-obesity-1.jpg"},"blog_info":{"country":"en-eu"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19062"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19062\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19090,"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19062\/revisions\/19090"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omni-biotic.com\/en-eu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}