The bacteria present in the intestinal flora of infants and their evolution make it possible to predict a risk of childhood obesity from the age of 5.
- The nature and evolution of the bacteria composing the mirobiota of infants can announce a risk of childhood obesity.
- A study confirms the link between the composition and the volume of these bacteria in children before 3 1/2 years and their BMI at 5 years.
- It is important to provide infants with a healthy diet from the first years of life to ensure a healthy microbiota as they grow.
A recent study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Dublin indicates that the composition of the intestinal microbiota of toddlers from zero to three and a half years old can predict their body mass index at five years old, even in children born prematurely. This discovery is important because childhood obesity is a major public health problem that can lead to serious pathologies later in life.
Composition of the intestinal microbiota and health
The intestinal microbiota is made up of billions of bacteria that colonize our digestive system from birth. Scientists are increasingly interested in the impact of the composition of this microbiota on human health, particularly in the case of childhood obesity. Indeed, several studies have already shown that disrupting the development of the gut microbiota can lead to inflammatory bowel diseases, type 1 diabetes and childhood obesity.
A study conducted in France to understand childhood obesity
To better understand the role of the intestinal microbiota in childhood obesity, a study was conducted in France on 143 premature infants and 369 infants born at term. The researchers looked at the composition and volume of bacteria in the gut microbiota of children at age three and a half, then compared that data with their body mass index at age five. The results of this study highlighted a strong association between the composition and volume of bacteria in the gut microbiota of children and their BMI at age five, regardless of whether they were born preterm or not. Specifically, the ratio of gut bacteria Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, which are directly implicated in obesity, was predictive of BMI at five years.
Importance of Childhood Obesity Prevention
These results show the importance of the composition of the intestinal microbiota in the development of childhood obesity and suggest that changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota can prevent the occurrence of this pathology. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt a balanced diet from the first years of life, in order to promote the development of a healthy intestinal microbiota. In addition, taking into account the composition of the intestinal microbiota in the prevention of childhood obesity could make it possible to put in place more effective strategies to fight against this pathology.
