People who received antibiotics as babies are more likely to be obese. This is a possible conclusion from a fascinating study that was published in the International Journal of Obesity earlier this week. Why would antibiotics have such an effect? One hypothesis is that the antibiotics negatively affect gut microflora (the good germs that live in our body). What you need to know:
Our body is host to billions of organisms that live in our intestines. This colony of bacteria, viruses, and fungi are collectively known as the microbiome. There are ten times more of these organisms in our gut than there are cells composing the entire human body!
The microbiome helps in food digestion, help build immunity, and even manufacture vitamins for us (vitamin K and biotin). Apparently, antibiotics are like a nuclear holocaust in the intestines, killing off and maiming various populations of these beneficial organisms. The result is a decreased efficiency in our metabolism and the storage of excess fat.
Why should we worry?
Because antibiotics are being fed to us through the food chain from a very young age. Think about your steak, burger, or chicken nuggets. Livestock and poultry are routinely given antibiotics in their feed mix, as a preventative measure, not because they are sick. This is because they do tend to get sick because of the cramped growing conditions in CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) aka factory farms.
More studies are needed in order to affirm the hypothesis, but this just one more reason to be worried about modern food production processes and their unintended consequences.