Hi Kate,
Thanks for reading, and responding! I’ll admit, my knowledge of the impact of gut bacteria isn’t quite up to scratch, but after doing some research I found this article https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352939318300162, which details a research study conducted on the links between gut bacteria and obesity. The following quote is from the study:
‘ Dietetic intervention could be then a good strategy to treat obesity, by reducing the energy intake and potentially modulate gut microbiota to aid weight loss.’
It seems they did find a link between gut bacteria and obesity, but they also found that gut bacteria can be altered through a change in diet, to actually aid in weight loss, instead of contributing to obesity.
Certain genes have been dubbed ‘obesity’ genes, but the contribution of genes to obesity risk is small, and making positive lifestyle choices can counter-act any genetic factor on obesity.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/genes-and-obesity/
With regard to usage of antibiotics on obesity, it does seem that there is a link between antibiotic usage and an increased risk of obesity. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle choices should nullify any increased risk. After all, if I close my eyes whilst crossing a road, my risk of getting hit by a car increases, it doesn’t guarantee that I will.
I’m not trying to say there are no other factors in childhood obesity. The point I was trying to make was that we are seeing an increasing number of children who are classed as obese when they are starting school. Are you telling me a parent isn’t too blame if they start school and are already obese? Who is to blame?
