MagIC focuses on the profound impact of Obesity and Metabolic Disease in China, affecting over 100 million individuals. Obesity and its associated metabolic diseases can lead to severe complications like heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, amputations, vision loss, and nerve damage, often resulting in disability and premature death.

 

Environmental factors, including alterations in gut microbiota, have been linked to the development of metabolic disorders. Gut bacteria play crucial roles in digestion, vitamin synthesis, and regulation of host metabolism. Although the precise mechanisms are not fully understood, the microbiome is known to enhance energy extraction from food, regulation of insulin sensitivity, and influence host hormones.

 

Modulating gut microbiota presents significant therapeutic potential in combating the escalating obesity crisis, particularly when integrated with dietary and exercise interventions.