Your stools reveal whether you can lose weight, new research suggests.
People cannot shed the pounds without a specific bacteria in their faeces, even if they eat a healthy diet, a study found.
Having low levels of the bacteria Prevotella in the trial’s participant’s stools prevented them from losing weight regardless of whether they were consuming fruits and vegetables or heavy, rich food and sweets, the research adds.
Only around 50 per cent of people are thought to have sufficient Prevotella levels in their gut, the study found. Prevotella is associated with plant-based diets – one that is abundant in fruit, vegetables, leafy greens, seeds, nuts, beans and lentils with little or no animal products.
However change in bacteria will not happen overnight and will take months.
Previous research suggests Prevotella may aid weight loss by influencing fat storage and how people respond to hunger hormones.
Study author Professor Mads Fiil Hjorth from the University of Copenhagen, said: ‘The study shows that only about half of the population will lose weight if they eat more fruit, vegetables, fibres and whole grains. The other half of the population doesn’t seem to gain any benefit in weight from this change of diet.’
