Weight is not just about calories. Two people eat the same food, exercise the same amount, but one gains weight quickly while the other stays slim. Classic diets focus on counting calories or fats, but forget a crucial player: the microbiome.

The microbiome is a metabolic control center. Through the crosstalk between intestinal flora, DNA and metabolites, it determines how we store food, use energy and cope with stress. My InnerSelfie makes this visible and helps employees and employers commit to sustainable weight management and vitality.

The problem

• More than 50% of adults in Europe are overweight or obese.
• Classic diets often lead to a yo-yo effect due to lack of personalization.
• For employees: fatigue, lower productivity, higher risk of burnout.
• For employers: higher absenteeism, more health costs and less sustainable employability.

Shen et al, Food Sci Nutr 2025 show that non-starch polysaccharides directly affect fat storage and obesity via the gut-adipose axis.

Multi-omics insights into weight management

1. Microbial balance
   - O'Malley, BioEssays 2024: A "balanced microbiome" is not a vague concept, but measurable through diversity and metabolites.
2. DNA & weight
   - Gene variants in FTO and MC4R influence predisposition to fat storage and hunger regulation.
3. Metabolites & satiety
   - SCFAs (such as propionate) increase satiety and improve insulin sensitivity.
4. Exposome & environment
   - Merra et al., PMC 2024: external factors (stress, diet, sleep, shift work) influence microbial balance and weight.
5. Strategic management of microbiome dynamics
   - Abdulsalam et al, Biological Research 2024: personalized strategies for microbiome balance can reduce obesity risks.

Innovative solutions for employee & employer

1. Weight Resilience Index
   - My InnerSelfie links DNA, microbiome and metabolites to predict fat storage, satiety and energy balance.
2. Gut-adipose Signature
   - Analysis of bacteria that consume or store lipids → personalized dietary recommendations.
3. Stress-weight crosstalk measure
   - Metabolites show how stress contributes to sugar cravings or fat storage.
4. Preventive monitoring
   - Early detection of metabolic imbalance prevents obesity, type 2 diabetes and burnout.

Why My InnerSelfie is unique

• Multi-omics integration: DNA, metabolites and microbiome are brought together in a single profile.
• Crosstalk focus: we show how gut, adipose tissue and hormones interact.
• Preventive precision: signs of obesity or metabolic stress become apparent early.
• Win-win: employees gain energy and resilience through sustainable weight management; employers see less absenteeism and more productivity.
• Tomorrow's care: innovative, preventive and always customized. Innovation of today becomes the standard of tomorrow - safe and scientifically based.

Key insights

• Weight and energy are determined in part by microbiome crosstalk.
• DNA and metabolites explain differences in hunger, fat storage and stress eating.
• My InnerSelfie helps employees sustainably manage weight and employers reduce sick leave.

Scientific references

• Shen Q, Yang Z, Hu C, et al. Non-starch polysaccharides and gut-adipose axis in obesity. Food Sci Nutr. 2025.
• O'Malley MA. The concept of balance in microbiome research. BioEssays. 2024.
• Merra G, Gualtieri P, La Placa G, et al. Exposome and microbiome interplay. PMC. 2024.
• Abdulsalam M, Hamisu AA, Ahmad AM, et al. Microbiome dynamics & strategic management strategies. Biological Research. 2024.
• Rook O, Zwart H. Awareness of human microbiome and lifestyle choices. Commun Med. 2025.