Does the gut microbiota hold the key to the obesity crisis? A perspective piece

Abstract

Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiota relate to the onset and maintenance of obesity via several pathophysiological mechanisms, all of which are influenced by the host diet. The rapid shift towards Western-typical diets at a global scale may be contributing to gut dysbiosis, and consequently fuelling the global obesity crisis. Further mechanistic understanding of the influence of the gut microbiota in weight regulation in humans may lend itself to the development of more efficacious treatments.