Obesity is a growing condition among Chinese children. (Photo : Reuters)
A group of researchers led by Chinese scientists uncovered a potentially effective therapy that can treat genetic and simple obesity in children. It is all about modulating the gut microbiota present in individuals.
Zhao Liping of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Tang Huiru of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Yin Aihua from Guangdong Province's children's hospital spearheaded the team of researches. Their findings were published on renowned medical journal EBioMedicine.
Aside from identifying bacterial genomes that produce obesity-related metabolites, the researchers also found out that an improved gut microbiota can help in the treatment of genetic obesity cases, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, among children.
Also known as PWS, the Prader-Willi syndrome manifests itself in children by increasing their appetites, which eventually leads to chronic overeating and obesity.
In their research, Zhao and his team went on to test a diet therapy with beneficial gut bacteria on several trial patients. The results were astonishing; along with a considerably diminished appetite, the trial patients also experienced weight loss and improved health conditions.
The scientists concluded in their published report that the dysbiosis of gut microbiota greatly affects both genetic and simple obesity in children, therefore making the dietary modulation of microbiota a potentially effective therapy that just might be the answer to solve child obesity in the country.
In an article published by The Guardian, the radically changed diet prevalent in the country, particularly among the Chinese urban middle class, is one of the main culprits behind the rapidly expanding waistlines of both Chinese children and adults.
The rise of obesity in the country also reflects a major flaw in China's healthcare policies.
