Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
07:18
Oral Gavage in Neonatal Mouse Pups and Functional Assessment of Gut Barrier Integrity Using Ussing Chambers
Published on: January 9, 2026
Early gut colonization and subsequent obesity risk
Jess L Kaplan1, W Allan Walker
1Department of Pediatrics and Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, MassGeneral Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129-4404, USA.
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|February 14, 2012
Summary
Early gut microbial colonization may influence obesity risk, but direct causal evidence is lacking. Further longitudinal studies are needed to understand the gut microbiome
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Human health
- Obesity pathogenesis
Background:
- Gut microbial colonization patterns are linked to human disease.
- Obesity is associated with significant shifts in gut microbiota.
- Early life microbial exposures may impact long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on gut dysbiosis in obesity.
- To examine evidence linking early microbial colonization to obesity risk.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies.
- Analysis of animal and human models of obesity.
- Evaluation of evidence for causal links.
Main Results:
- Indirect evidence suggests a role for gut microbiota in obesity.
- Direct proof of causation and specific early colonization patterns is currently absent.
- Obesity-associated dysbiosis is supported, but causality is unclear.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between gut microbiota and obesity requires further investigation.
- Longitudinal studies are essential to establish causality.
- Understanding this link may yield novel obesity prevention and treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
01:22Gut-Brain Axis
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...
01:26Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of gastritis begins with the colonization of the stomach lining by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This bacterium spreads mainly via the oral-oral route through saliva or shared utensils, and can also be transmitted in overcrowded or unhygienic environments through contaminated water, despite its brief survival outside the body.ColonizationOnce ingested, H. pylori enters the stomach and begins colonization by navigating through the mucus layer lining the stomach wall. It...