Childhood obesity is one of the major health concerns globally. According to recent statistics, about 40 million children who are under 5 years old are overweight.

Obese children are at risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and diabetes. Various interventions have been developed to tackle this problem, and one of the promising options is probiotics.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms, mainly bacteria or yeast, that are beneficial to human health when taken in sufficient amounts. They can be consumed through fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, and pickles, or supplements.

Probiotics are responsible for maintaining a healthy balance of microorganisms in the gut, which is essential for proper digestion, absorption of nutrients, and immune function.

The Role of Probiotics in Reducing Childhood Obesity

Probiotics have been found to play a crucial role in preventing and treating obesity in both adults and children.

The mechanism through which probiotics affect body weight is by altering the gut microbiota composition, increasing energy expenditure, and reducing inflammation.

Microbiota Composition

The gut microbiota is a collection of over 100 trillion microorganisms that inhabit the human digestive tract. Studies have shown that obese individuals have a different microbiota composition compared to their lean counterparts.

Obese people have a higher proportion of Firmicutes bacteria and a lower proportion of Bacteroidetes. The Firmicutes bacteria are responsible for extracting more calories from food and storing them as fat, leading to weight gain.

On the other hand, Bacteroidetes help to break down complex carbohydrates and fiber, producing short-chain fatty acids that are used for energy production and reducing inflammation. Probiotics have been found to increase the proportion of Bacteroidetes, leading to improved metabolic health.

Energy Expenditure

The energy expenditure in the body is regulated by the brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is responsible for burning energy and generating heat.

Probiotics have been found to activate the BAT, leading to increased energy expenditure and improved metabolic health. A study conducted on mice showed that those treated with probiotics had a significant reduction in weight gain compared to the control group.

The treated mice also had a higher proportion of BAT and a lower proportion of white adipose tissue (WAT), which is associated with obesity.

Inflammation

Inflammation is a contributory factor in the development of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Probiotics have been found to reduce inflammation in obese individuals by decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In a clinical trial conducted on obese adults, those treated with probiotics had a significant reduction in abdominal adiposity and inflammatory markers compared to the placebo group.

Conclusion

Probiotics have a promising role in preventing and treating childhood obesity. The use of probiotics can alter the gut microbiota composition, increase energy expenditure, and reduce inflammation, leading to improved metabolic health.

However, further research is needed to establish the most effective strains and dosage of probiotics for childhood obesity treatment.