METHODS FOR PREDICTING OVERWEIGHT RISK FOR PETS AND ADULT PERCENT BODY FAT

摘要

The invention provides methods for determining overweight risk in a companion animal and to predict percent body fat in a young animal upon maturity. In one embodiment, a method for determining overweight risk in a companion animal can comprise measuring a relative abundance of bacteria from a microbiome of the companion animal; comparing the relative abundance of the bacteria to a relative abundance of the bacteria in a lean microbiome profile or in an overweight microbiome profile; and determining that the companion animal is at risk for being overweight if the relative abundance of bacteria is within the overweight microbiome profile or if the relative abundance of bacteria is outside the lean microbiome profile.