Yo-yo weight gain driven by gut bacteria's 'memory' of obesity, says study

Regaining weight after a diet could be linked to changes in microbiome caused by obesity, not simply a return to bad eating habits

People who struggle to maintain a healthy weight after dieting may do so because their gut bacteria retains a "memory" of their past weight, according to scientists.

The study, in mice, suggests that yo-yo dieting is not simply a reflection of people returning to unhealthy eating habits, but could be driven by long-term changes in gut bacteria brought about by obesity.