The bugs that help digest food may also cause the body to pack on the pounds if they are not properly regulated, a new study has found.  That is because if the wrong kinds of bacteria take over they can cause a low-level inflammation that leads to a pre-diabetic condition and an elevated appetite, the study published in the journal Science found. 16-03-2010

"It has been assumed that the obesity epidemic in the developed world is driven by an increasingly sedentary lifestyle and the abundance of low-cost, high-calorie foods," said senior author Andrew Gewirtz of Emory University School of Medicine.  "However, our results suggest that excess caloric consumption is not only a result of undisciplined eating but that intestinal bacteria contribute to changes in appetite and metabolism." With thanks to The Independent.  To read the full story go to:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/bugs-in-the-gut-can-cause-obesity-1917891.html