What fat cats on a diet may tell us about obesity in humans

Pet cats may be excellent animal models for the study of obesity origins and treatment in humans, a new study of feline gut microbes suggests—and both species would likely get healthier in the research process, scientists say. Veterinary researchers analyzed fecal samples from fat cats as the animals lost and maintained weight over the course of four dietary changes, including strict calorie reduction. The team found that food-related changes to the cats’ gut microbiome—the assortment of bacteria and molecules those bacteria produce and consume—have striking similarities to dietary effects on the gut previously seen in humans. Though there is still Read More