First, we need to determine what weight is considered too much. We use the body mass index (BMI) as a benchmark for this. The BMI is calculated by the ratio of body weight to height and is given in kg/m². You can easily calculate your BMI yourself. Assuming you weigh 70 kg and are 1.65 m tall, the calculation is: 70 : (1.65 x 1.65) = 25.7 kg/m². A BMI in the range of 18.5 to 25 kg/m² is considered normal weight, values below this indicate underweight, while values above this indicate overweight. A BMI of over 30 kg/m² is referred to as obesity.

The principle of gaining and losing weight is simple: more energy consumed than energy used leads to the excess being stored as body fat. Conversely, the body draws on fat reserves when food intake is reduced. A healthy, balanced diet and physical activity are therefore essential.

The microbiome plays an important role in health and is involved in the development of various diseases, including diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and atherosclerosis. The numerous gut bacteria exhibit different behaviors: Some support health, while others can impair it. This also applies to overweight and obesity: certain bacteria appear to promote obesity, while others can have a protective effect.

Various studies have shown that the microbiome of overweight people differs significantly from that of people of normal weight. Overweight people tend to have a less diverse microbiome with a lower number of bacterial species. A high diversity of bacteria is an indicator of a healthy gut, which has a strong influence on numerous diseases. In addition, higher concentrations of certain bacterial species such as Actinobacter, Actinomyces, Lactobacillus and Eubacterium have been observed in overweight people. This suggests that these bacteria could play a significant role in the development of obesity. However, it remains unclear whether the altered microbiome causes obesity or vice versa. However, it is certain that individuals with an "overweight microbiome" tend to gain weight more easily and may have more difficulty losing weight.

The microbiome not only affects metabolism, but also influences numerous other bodily functions. The microbiome patterns associated with weight gain promote inflammation, over-activate the immune system and impair sugar tolerance, which can promote diseases such as diabetes, fatty liver, hypertension, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This suggests that obesity and its associated diseases are closely linked to the microbiome and part of the problem may lie in the gut. Taking care of the gut microbiome is therefore crucial for weight management and overall health. In addition to a gut-friendly diet, this also includes regular exercise and stress management.

A balanced diet is crucial for a healthy microbiome and effective weight loss. This should be rich in fiber-rich carbohydrates from whole grain products, legumes, vegetables and fruit as well as healthy fats and sufficient protein.

Because nutrition plays such an important role, with the myBioma gut microbiome analysis we not only provide insights into the microbial composition of your gut, but also offer personalized nutritional recommendations based on the individual needs of your gut microbiome. This allows you to take targeted measures to improve the composition of your gut microbiome and optimize your weight at the same time.