The mix of bacteria in your gut might be connected to conditions like obesity and diabetes, and certain types of bacteria could be tied to storing more fat and how your body handles sugar.

The bacteria in your gut might affect your weight and blood sugar by changing how your body uses energy and handles inflammation.

Having a healthy mix of gut bacteria can help your body manage blood sugar better and respond more effectively to insulin.

An imbalance in gut bacteria may cause the gut to leak toxins into the body, triggering inflammation and making it harder for the body to use insulin properly in people with type 2 diabetes.

Eating a lot of processed foods may change the good bacteria in your gut in ways that make it harder for your body to manage weight and blood sugar.

What you eat overall—like veggies, meat, or carbs—is probably what’s really changing your gut bacteria, not the sugar-free sweeteners in your diet.