With rising obesity, microbiomes tip the scale

Human beings have grappled with obesity for thousands of years.

Greek philosopher and physician Galen described “bad humors” as the cause of obesity and prescribed low-calorie foods, massages, baths, greens and garlic to his patients to help them slim down. In the 18th century, William Banting successfully lost weight following a low-carb diet and spread his mantra to the public in a pamphlet called a “Letter on Corpulence,” which sold faster than chocolates. In June 2013, the American Medical Association passed a Resolution 420 declaring obesity as a disease, paving the way for treatment reimbursement.

All the while, health care providers have been intimately trying to find an etiology and a cure for this common but complex condition. Treating obesity has become a multi-billion dollar business; as its incidence and prevalence grows, so too does the bank accounts of investors trying to market the next miracle cure.

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