As the holiday season approaches, losing those extra pounds — or even just maintaining your weight — becomes even more difficult. After all, you have to deal with office get-togethers, family reunions, late nights out on the town, etc. And as the calories multiply, and the amount of exercise goes down, the pounds can really add up. Now, a new study suggests that these poor dietary habits may actually change your body’s chemistry, making it more susceptible to weight gain!

According to a study published in Science Translational Medicine, the high levels of sugar and carbohydrates associated with the “Western diet” has been shown to target the bacteria in the stomachs of mice. When exposed to these bacteria, the mice became obese. Researchers believe that these results may hold true for humans, as well.

Targeting On the Bacterial Level

As a result, they are now focusing their weight management efforts on the microorganisms – and there are billions – that call the gut home. The researchers at St. Louis’ Washington University School of Medicine hope to gain a better understanding, and perhaps an eventual treatment, for obesity.

“Although how much you eat and how much you exercise are dominant drivers of your energy balance, it’s possible that microbial communities and how they work also comprise a factor that determines your risk for obesity or risk for malnutrition,” said Dr. Jeffrey I. Gordon, the study’s senior author director. “There are 10 times more microbial cells associated with adult human bodies than there are human cells, so we are 90 percent microbial and 10 percent human.”

Not All Bacteria Are Bad!

To be fair, these bacteria are vital for some pretty important functions. Specifically, they’re essential for digestion, and they aid in the absorption of those foods that would otherwise be indigestible. Unfortunately, the digestive system is pretty complicated and inaccessible to study, as there are many factors affecting both digestion AND obesity.

In the study, the researchers transplanted microbes from human feces into mice without gut microorganisms of their own. Then, they switched the mice from a low-fat diet to one high in fat and junk food. The results showed that in as little as 24 hours, the animals’ stomach bacteria actually changed. These mice were greeted by new bacteria species, while the overall numbers jumped. Plus, these mice all became obese. Researchers believe that these obesity-causing bacteria can actually be passed from mothers to their newborn children, as well.

These findings will probably have a huge effect on weight management products and practices. Scientists feel that the microbes and bacteria themselves could be modified within patients’ stomachs and actually reduce or eliminate excess weight.

SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20091112/hl_hsn/gutbacteriamightbemakingpeoplefat