Biography
Biography: Farah Hillou
Abstract
Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. The causes of obesity are multifactorial and are influenced by interplay of genetic, behavioral and environmental factors. Recent evidence suggests that gut microbiota is involved in energy homeostasis and inflammation, which may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of obesity. The human gut harbors a diverse collection of microbes involved in metabolic, physiological, nutritional and immunological processes throughout the body. The dynamic composition of the human gut microbiota is determined by multiple factors such as mode of delivery, diet, environment, infections and exposure to antibiotics. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota, has been linked to various diseases in infancy and later life including asthma, obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease and autism spectrum disorders. Currently, various techniques such as dietary manipulation with pre-and probiotics are under investigation and appear to hold promise in the prevention and management of obesity via alterations in gut microbiota composition.