Core Viewpoint - Obesity is a global health crisis affecting over 600 million people, linked to serious complications such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Current strategies focus on direct metabolic regulation, but modulating gut microbiota to limit nutrient availability presents a promising alternative [1][2]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study published by researchers from the RIKEN Institute indicates that acetylated cellulose (AceCel) suppresses body mass gain by enabling gut commensals to consume host-accessible carbohydrates, highlighting its potential as a prebiotic [2][10]. - Gut microbiota plays a significant role in metabolizing nutrients and influencing diseases, with gut microbiota accounting for 2.5%-5% of total energy supply in humans and about 8% in mice [4]. - The research demonstrates that AceCel significantly alters gut bacterial composition and function, reducing weight gain in both wild-type and obese mice by limiting carbohydrate oxidation in the liver and promoting fatty acid oxidation [8][11]. Group 2: Mechanism of Action - AceCel enhances the fermentation of carbohydrates by gut symbionts, specifically Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, leading to a reduction in host-accessible monosaccharides and energy intake [8][11]. - The study emphasizes the importance of acetate, a short-chain fatty acid, in modulating the interaction between gut bacteria and host metabolism, suggesting that acetate's delivery to the distal colon can improve various metabolic indicators [5][6]. Group 3: Implications for Obesity Treatment - The findings underscore the potential of AceCel as a prebiotic that can regulate carbohydrate metabolism in both bacteria and hosts, offering new hope for obesity prevention and treatment strategies [10][11].