Obesity May Be Linked to Microorganisms in Gut

A breath test profile of microorganisms inhabiting the gut may be able to tell doctors how susceptible a person is to developing obesity. The study shows that people whose breath has high concentrations of both hydrogen and methane gasses are more likely to have a higher BMI and percentage of body fat. "This is the first large-scale human study to show an association between gas production and body weight — and this could prove to be another important factor in understanding one of the many causes of obesity," said lead author Ruchi Mathur, MD, director of the Diabetes Outpatient Treatment and Education Center in the Division of Endocrinology at Cedars-Sinai. Published online by The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, March 25, 2013.