Trusting your gut may be dieting key

GARLAND, Texas (KXAS/NBC) - If you want to lose weight, eat less. That's what any dietitian will tell you.

However, researchers said the bacteria in your gut may play a huge role in the size of your waistline. How do you change it? That's scientists' next step.

Alisa Martin said she's been battling the bulge for as long as she can remember.

"I have tried every diet known to man and constantly am disappointed, regaining the weight," said Martin.

Baylor Garland physician Dr. Jane Sadler cites a recent study published in the journal Nature .

It found every person carries 160 different kinds of gut bacteria. Some bacteria can influence the metabolism, by either storing fat or burning less of it.

Some bacteria can slow down food moving through the intestine, so there is more time to grab calories.

"There may be some bacteria that might be capable of promoting weight loss and increasing metabolism," said Sadler.

What kind of bacteria you have is largely passed down to you.

Yet, researchers said the next step is retooling the bacteria in your gut, either through special drinks or antibiotics – though those products are still years away.

Martin's fighting fat now with an iPhone app but is eager for scientists to get to the bottom of gut bacteria.

"I'm really optimistic about this as being another tool, not a magic bullet, but another tool in the tool box in the fight against obesity," said Martin.

So far, studies have been done on lab mice. Researchers said they still have a lot of work to do before human tests.