The Link Between Gut Health and Body Weight
Written by Mallory Hagan and Jonathan Bailor, CEO SANESolution & Reviewed by Dr. Matthew Olesiak, MD Chief Medical Director, SANESolution
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As many of you know, I recently took a gut health test, and once I implemented the dietary recommendations, I was floored by the results. Not only did I notice less bloating and fatigue, but after my weight loss had been stalled for months, I dropped 12 pounds! I am amazed at what improving gut health can do. That’s why I am thrilled to share this post I co-authored with Jonathan Bailor founder of wellness engineering and CEO of SANESolution.
While I have long been an advocate for body positivity and women’s health, excess body weight has become a public health crisis. More than 1.9 billion individuals globally are overweight or obese.(1) This increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other serious conditions. Not to mention, it decreases our ability to live our lives in the most optimal way .
There are many theories proposed for why body weight has become such a difficult problem to solve.
Certainly, excessive intake of processed foods and inactivity play a role; but, what if the key to having a healthy body weight is rooted in a healthy gut?
A Healthy Gut: The Secret Key to Weight Loss?
The human body contains trillions of bacteria, most of which are in your gut. The bacteria in your digestive system has a huge effect on your weight!
Making up the gut microbiome, these bacteria impact body weight in ways we are only just beginning to understand. For example, they help extract calories from the foods you eat and store these calories for later use, which can have a profound impact on whether or not you’re overweight.
Research shows that there is a lack of bacterial diversity in the microbiomes of obese individuals when compared to those who are thinner.(2) The fact that they have fewer types of bacteria in their gut could influence how their body processes calories. This means that, yes, food quality and intake is a part of weight regulation and weight loss; but, it’s also about whether or not your body is functioning properly!
Amazingly, gut bacteria may even influence your food cravings. Research suggests that different strains of bacteria have preferences for certain types of food. For example, a microbe called Bifidobacterium likes dietary fiber, while Prevoltella likes carbs.(3)
Keep in mind that when you eat, you’re feeding your gut bacteria. The more you feed them the foods they love, the larger their community will grow...and the more of those foods you’ll crave.
Bacteria are only concerned with their fitness and survival, so if a colony of sugar-eating bacteria grows large enough, they can trigger incessant sugar cravings and/or depress our mood or energy level until we give in and reach for that candy bar.(4)
The big takeaway here is that a high-sugar, low fiber diet -- what has sadly become known as the “standard American diet” -- is feeding the wrong kind of bacteria that may be increasing your cravings, your hunger...and your weight.
The best way to resolve this problem is to eat a diet that is rich in plant-based fiber, low in sugar, and includes a moderate amount of nutrient dense protein and healthy whole food fats. This means reducing or eliminating heavily processed foods in favor of whole foods that nourish your body and feed beneficial bacteria. Making these changes in my own life has had a tremendous impact on my overall wellbeing, food cravings, sleep quality, and exercise performance. I’ve adopted SANE eating and am feeling so much better!
Want to learn more? Head over to BetterMovie.com and you’ll be amazed at how you can shift your own life through gut and nutritional health!