Recent study revealed that intake of probiotics during and after pregnancy helped women in reducing their unwanted body fat and their waistline. Probiotics are basically bacteria that assist in maintenance of bacterial balance in the digestive tract by reducing the growth of harmful bacteria.

Researchers at the University of Turku in Finland studied data collected from 256 Finish women. Data analysis revealed that after six months only a quarter of women taking probiotics were classed as obese with a body mass index by of 30 or more and had waist sizes above 31.5 inches (80cms) as compared to around half of women not taking supplement.

After a further six months when the probiotics had been stopped only 25 per cent of in the supplement group remained obese as compared to more than 40 per cent of women in the other two groups.

Kirsi Laitinen, a nutritionist and senior lecturer at the University of Turku, said that the results of the study were an encouraging sign of the impact of a diet supplemented with probiotics on adiposity. Adiposity, or central obesity, is a particularly unhealthy form of obesity associated with fat bellies.

She added: "The women who got the probiotics fared best. One year after childbirth, they had the lowest levels of central obesity as well as the lowest body fat percentage. "

Ms Laitinen said that further research was needed to confirm the potential role of probiotics in fighting obesity.