Exposure to a microorganism found in cow’s milk and soil may protect against Western-style diet-induced weight gain, suggests research. Vaccination with Mycobacterium vaccae bacteria in mice following a high-fat and high-sugar diet prevented excessive weight gain and reduced increases in visceral adipose tissue — fat that builds up around organs. The study builds on previous research indicating that the organism can prevent stress-induced inflammation and associated health problems in mice. More research is needed to determine how it prevents weight gain and if the results can be replicated in humans.
