Gut bug transfer for healthy weight

A New Zealand study into the effect of transplanting gut bacteria from slim people to obese teenagers is set to begin.

Presenting at the Diabesity Symposium in Auckland, Liggins Institute professor Wayne Cutfield said, using newly developed stool-sourced gut bug capsules, participants will be given gut bacteria from very lean, fit donors, to see if it has any impact on their weight.

Previous animal studies show fat storage appears to be influenced by gut bacteria make-up and transplanting gut bacteria from lean humans to mice results in weight loss.