"Researchers found a strong connection between obesity and the levels of certain types of bacteria in the gut. That could mean that someday there will be novel new ways of treating obesity that go beyond the standard advice of diet and exercise."


Click here to read the article.

Kewl, I need a new excuse to explain why I'm fat... the thyroid problem one was getting a little old.

Interesting article

I know there's a million different articles about losing weight, the causes of weight gain,
but... this one is interesting because of the theories about Leaky Gut Syndrome. (Google it). I first learned about it re: autism and autoimmune issues, but I think in time we'll hear more about this... the research is just beginning.

Anyway, just my humble

In one of the two studies in Nature, Gordon and colleagues looked at what happened in mice with changes in bacteria level. When lean mice with no germs in their guts had larger ratios of Firmicutes transplanted, they got "twice as fat" and took in more calories from the same amount of food than mice with the more normal bacteria ratio, said Washington University microbiology instructor Ruth Ley, a study co-author.



Now that part is interesting as hell.

Just out of curiosity why your interest in autism?

My eldest son ... dx: Asperger's Syndrome.... high-functioning autism

There's a gal that belongs to this board (although she doesn't post) that works at Vanderbilt researching Autism.

When I was working in the food processing industry, I had several chances to work with Dr. Temple Grandin on some projects (she is autistic), she is one of the most fascinating people I've ever met.

You should check out her website

Dr Temple Garndin is a fascinating person. I have read some of her ideas and seen several reports about the things she does. We could learn alot from her.

I freaked the first time I was working with her. She got down on her hands and knees and crawled about 100 yards through cow shit in cow pens, squeeze chutes and up cattle ramps, then I finally figured out why she was doing it.

Dr. Grandin is indeed fascinating... and a wonderful advocate. One of my son's current heroes is Thomas Jefferson,
due to a theory he may have had Asperger's Syndrome. Some other popular role models who are thought to have been/are autistic are Albert Einstein, Dian Fossey, Andy Warhol, Lewis Caroll, and Andy Kaufman... to name a few.

Then of course, there's my youngest son's favorite NASCAR driver- Elliot Sadler - who just happens to promote the cause of Autism awareness.

I love Elliot! I just wished Robert Yates could have put him in a decent ride.

I loved Andy Kaufman too, a lot of people didn't, I could so connect with him... have you watch the movie "Man on the Moon"?

It's actually Hermie's daughter who has the autism dx, so both of the Sadler brothers are autism advocates. Their mom is on the Board of Directors for the Central VA chapter of the Autism Society.

I haven't seen "Man in the Moon", but "Mozart and the Whale" finally came out, and it's sitting here, ready to be watched over the holidays.

Notre Dame's football coach Charlie Weis, has a daughter with autism. He has used his platform as coach for the greatest college football program in the world to raise awareness about special needs children. Here's the link to the foundation he started "Hannah and Friends".

They've run several halftime specials on NBC when Notre Dame has played telling the story of Hannah and the Weis family it's heartwarming to say the least.

Thanks for sharing the link... I suppose it's the football thing, but reminds me of the good work Doug Flutie has been doing with the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation.