The Microbiome and Risk for Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are influenced both by genes and lifestyle. That is not news. However, the genes in the human microbiome also may play an important role, and that is news. It has been known for decades that gut bacteria synthesize essential vitamins and amino acids and help degrade toxins. During the past decade, it has become clear that the influence of the microbiome on health may be even more profound. Here, Komaroff talks about how microbiota affect obesity.