SHARES
“I like how chubby my boy is when he was a young child. He was my favourite hug at night. However, as he grows up, I start to worry about his health. Also, at school, my son feels awkward about his size!” Jenny, the mother to two children, is having a headache over her son’s obesity.
Globally, childhood obesity is one of the most serious health problems of the 21st century. About 5% of the paediatric population are having a problem with their body weight. It is not only bad for self-esteem but also causes dangerous medical condition such as diabetes and heart disease. Often, there is no cure for diseases caused by obesity. The best way around is to prevent it from happening.
Probiotics and The Gut Microbiome
Our gut is full of bacteria. Some are bad and others are good, just like how a big city would have both citizens and criminals.
In a manner, there are bad bacteria in our gut that put us at higher risk for obesity such as Escherichia coli. On the other hand, studies show that two strains of good bacteria, which naturally occur in our gut, reduce the number of bad bacteria associated with childhood obesity. Bifidobacterium breve helps break down sugar and dietary fiber in our food. This competition for food makes it harder for bad bacteria to survive.
Researchers also notice that when concentration of Bifidobacteria is low, it impairs digestion, affects food choice and energy expenditure, eventually leading to childhood obesity.
In this sense, good bacteria are what constitute probiotics. We can supplement our diet with probiotics to increase the amount of good bacteria relative to the bad bacteria. The good guys would collectively keep the bad ones in check!
Photo by sam davis from Flickr
The Effect of Probiotics On Childhood Obesity
Research is ongoing with regards to the effect of probiotic supplementation on childhood obesity. In a study by Prof. Flavia Prodam and colleagues, children and adolescents are given B. breve BR03 and B. breve B632 probiotic supplement for 8 weeks. The results are great! This supplementation not only results in significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, but also improves fasting glucose level and lowers blood pressure. Moreover, the concentration of E. coli also decreases.
Furthermore, 4 weeks later, the researchers swap between participants who receive placebo and those who receive B. breve BR03 and B. breve B632 supplements. Scientists then quickly notice that those who receive probiotics treatment before switching to placebo supplementation have lasting beneficial effects that outlast the 4-weeks washout period.
In this study, it is important to take note that all participants consumed Mediterranean diet with calorie control. The role of probiotics is still unclear in the presence of other health conditions. This is especially true for those who consume a lot of processed food, with allergies, Crohn’s disease, or those taking antibiotics. In short, these probiotics may not survive in a gut environment that is hostile to them.
Photo by healthstoresnow review from Flickr
Conclusion
We are what we eat. Our food choice will determine which type of gut bacteria to feed and which to starve. All in all, this would affect our body digestion and metabolism. Probiotics is useful to manage childhood obesity. Studies show that with a healthy and balanced diet, probiotics supplementation in children and adolescents can further increase the population of good bacteria in the gut flora. The effect is improvement in BMI, lower waist circumference, blood pressure & blood sugar.
References:
1. Davenport L. Could probiotics help tackle childhood obesity [Internet]? WebMD LLC. 2020. (Available from: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/937232; last updated on 2020 Sept 11; last accessed on 2020 Sept 30)
2. Henderson E. Probiotics may help manage obesity in younger population [Internet]. News-Medical.Net. 2020. (Available from: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200907/Probiotics-may-help-manage-obesity-in-younger-population.aspx; last updated on 2020 Sept 7; last accessed on 2020 Sept 30)
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by Chang Xian
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