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Gut-Brain Axis in Obesity: How Dietary Patterns Influence Psychological Well-Being and Metabolic Health

Summary

This review explains how our diet affects both our gut bacteria and our mental health through the gut-brain axis, a communication system between our digestive system and brain. Mediterranean diets rich in fiber and healthy foods support beneficial bacteria and mental well-being, while Western diets high in processed foods harm gut health and increase obesity risk. Emotional eating driven by stress and depression worsens obesity, but targeted dietary interventions with prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber can help restore balance and improve both physical and mental health.

Background

Obesity is a major global health crisis affecting over 650 million individuals, characterized by dysregulation of the gut-brain axis involving nutritional, microbial, and psychological factors. The gut microbiota composition is significantly influenced by dietary patterns, with Western diets promoting dysbiosis and inflammation while Mediterranean diets enhance microbial diversity and health. Understanding the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract is crucial for obesity management.

Objective

This review aims to integrate current understanding of the gut-brain axis and its role in obesity, examining how dietary patterns influence gut microbiota composition, psychological well-being, and metabolic health. The review contrasts Western diets with Mediterranean and plant-based diets, examines psychological factors like emotional eating and stress, and evaluates therapeutic dietary interventions including prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber supplementation.

Results

Mediterranean diets rich in fiber and polyphenols enhance microbial diversity and SCFA production, reducing inflammation and supporting metabolic health. Western diets high in processed foods and saturated fats promote dysbiosis and systemic inflammation. Psychological factors including emotional eating, stress, depression, and anxiety significantly contribute to obesity through gut-brain axis dysfunction. Prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber-rich interventions can restore metabolic balance and improve psychological outcomes.

Conclusion

The gut-brain axis represents a multifactorial approach to obesity management integrating diet, microbiota composition, and mental health. Future obesity treatment should employ individualized nutrition based on microbiome profiling combined with psychological counseling and pharmacological interventions. An integrative, multidisciplinary strategy addressing nutritional, microbial, and psychological factors is essential for effective obesity prevention and management.
  • Published in:Food Science & Nutrition,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 40708777, PMCID: PMC12288621, DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.70689
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