Gut microbiota and obesity

Abstract

Worldwide, adults and childhood obesity are increasing alarmingly, being a major health problem. Obesity is correlated with an increased incidence of various systemic diseases including cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes mellitus type 2. Risk factors for obesity are dysbiosis, genetic, socioeconomic, behavioural and environmental. The gut microbiota has beneficial effects on human health, like host immune system stimulation, being influenced by pH, or nutrient intake. Studies performed on humans and animal models reported differences regarding microbiota at lean and obese individuals. The consumption of probiotics and prebiotics may balance the microbiota with positive effects in obesity. The main aim of this review is to reveal the interaction between dysbiosis and obesity