Belly fat is more than just stubborn weight – it plays a complex role in our health, interacting with the immune system and gut bacteria. But could gut microbes hold the key to understanding and managing belly fat?In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Devkota, Director of the Microbiome Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai, shares groundbreaking findings on how gut bacteria interact with belly fat. Tim Spector, professor of epidemiology and scientific co-founder at ZOE, also joins the conversation to explain how the diversity of your gut bacteria affects weight and overall health.Together, our guests share surprising ways the microbiome influences fat storage and offer practical tips for supporting gut health.🥑 Make smarter food choices. Become a member at zoe.com - 10% off with code PODCAST🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30+Follow ZOE on Instagram.Timecodes00:00 The risks of internal fat01:45 Quickfire questions03:12 What is belly fat?04:30 How dangerous is internal fat?05:44 How our body uses belly fat16:20 Groundbreaking study on gut bacteria21:05 These gut bacteria live in your fat tissue24:50 Gut health and your immune system31:58 Why microbes are essential to survive38:30 Why gut health starts at birth46:40 The importance of sampling your gut microbes50:50 Two changes you can make right now53:02 Easy fermented eating tips55:10 Why not all pickles are fermented📚Books by our ZOE ScientistsThe Food For Life CookbookEvery Body Should Know This by Dr Federica AmatiFood For Life by Prof. Tim SpectorFree resources from ZOELive Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & NutritionGut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks Mentioned in today's episodeTranslocation of Viable Gut Microbiota to Mesenteric Adipose Drives Formation of Creeping Fat in Humans (2020), published in CellOur extended microbiome: The human-relevant metabolites and biology of fermented foods (2024), published in Cell MetabolismEffects of a personalized nutrition program on cardiometabolic health: a randomized controlled trial (2024), published in NatureHeritable components of the human fecal microbiome are associated with visceral fat (2016) published in Genome BiologyDissecting the role of the gut microbiota and diet on visceral fat mass accumulation (2019), published in Scientific ReportsHave feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here.Episode transcripts are available here.