A Review of the Potential of Probiotic Bacteria in Managing the Body Weight of Obese Individuals

The prevalence of obesity has increased globally due to improved living standards, posing a significant public health challenge. This review aims to explore the potential of probiotics in managing the weight of obese individuals.

This review was conducted following the Prisma guidelines for review studies. Relevant studies published between 2010 and 2023 were collected from databases such as ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and PubMed using keywords like "obesity, weight loss, overweight, probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., and Bifidobacterium spp." Selected studies were analyzed, categorized, and discussed.

Findings suggest that probiotics can effectively control weight, with Lactobacilli showing higher effectiveness compared to other probiotics. Combining other probiotics with Lactobacilli also demonstrated a positive impact on weight control. Overall, studies indicate that adjusting the intestinal microbial flora with probiotic supplements can influence weight management.

Probiotic supplements appear to be a promising strategy for treating obesity in the future. However, further evidence from human trials is necessary to confirm the beneficial effects of probiotics on obesity.