NEWEST WEAPON IN WEIGHT LOSS: POOP PILLS?

It seems like new methods for weight loss make headlines every day, many of which may sound like a load of poop. But new research from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is actually exploring how said poop may in fact become a weight loss aid in the future.

No, really. We’re not making this up. Research into how the ingestion of fecal matter might affect the body’s ability to metabolize food more efficiently is really happening. But believe it or not, this is not the first time the idea has been pursued. In fact, it has been used to great effect to treat illness.

Fecal transplants, via capsules of frozen feces, can be used to treat people suffering from a nasty infection called Clostridium difficile. This condition causes extreme diarrhea, and often antibiotics cant get rid of the bug. The fecal matter pills have succeeded where the antibiotics couldn’t, providing the necessary good bacteria the body needs to fight off infection.

So what’s the connection to weight loss? Studies have shown that improvements in gut bacteria can increase weight loss, so the MGH researchers are exploring the hypothesis that the fecal matter of healthy weight people can be used to treat those suffering from obesity. They believe that the bacteria in lean bodies may do a better job interfering with the absorption of calories into body fat. In fact, in an animal study, fecal transplants were shown to reduce weight in mice. Our bodies are a bit more complicated, but these results show some promise. If the bacteria in these capsules can change the human microbiome (the body’s bacteria environment), people suffering from obesity may indeed have access to another weapon helping them lose weight.

However, just like all other pharmacological studies, researchers caution that there is no magic weight loss pill on the horizon. To lose weight and maintain it for the long-term, following daily healthy eating, activity, and other lifestyle strategies will win the day. After all, there are good reasons why many people are lean. They put in the effort to learn the lessons of proper weight management and integrate them into their lives.

At CMWL, we feel it is our doody, er, duty, to report on all legitimate tools medical providers may be able to offer you as part of your weight loss program. You may be hearing more about fecal matter transplants for weight loss in the future if the effectiveness of the treatment bears fruit. In the meantime, continue to learn all you can about how a healthy gut can aid in weight loss and long-term weight maintenance so you can flush away the fat in the most natural of ways.