Potential Application of Natural Products in Weight Management and Obesity: Focusing on the Gut Microbiota

Obesity is considered to have reached epidemic proportions, and its prevalence has increased dramatically in many countries and regions around the world. In addition to affecting the quality of life of patients, obesity leads to a wide variety of adverse consequences, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and some cancers. Therefore, obesity has become a serious health problem. The gut microbiota is a vital component of the human body, and its stability and diversity are conducive to the maintenance of a normal physiological state. Growing evidence links the gut microbiota to obesity and obesity-related complications. The composition of the gut microbiota is altered in obese individuals. Meanwhile, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. To date, various interventions have attempted to control weight by regulating the gut microbiota. Here, we present recent advances on the roles of gut microbiota in the development of obesity. Furthermore, we emphatically summarize the bioactive natural products, including polysaccharides, polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids, that prevent and treat obesity by remodeling the gut microbiota.