Chewing gum that fights belly fat? new study tests probiotic approach

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male and female subjects ≥ 18 years old. 2. Established diagnosis of abdominal obesity: waist circumference (WC) ≥ 102 cm for men and ≥ 88 cm for women. 3. Voluntary, written, signed, informed consent to participate in the study. 4. Agreement to comply with the protocol and study restrictions. 5. Females of child-bearing potential require to provide a negative urine pregnancy test. Exclusion Criteria: 1. WC \< 102 cm for men, \<88 cm for women, and \>150 cm. 2. BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. 3. Diagnosed and pharmacologically-treated type 1 or type 2 diabetes (fasting blood glucose ≥ 7 mmol/l). 4. Subjects with serious autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, liver dysfunction/disease, kidney dysfunction/disease, dementia, pancreatic disease, history of cancer within past 5 years, anemia, or any other disease or condition which, in the Investigator's opinion, could interfere with the results of the study or the safety of the subject. 5. Immunosuppression or ongoing therapy causing immunosuppression. 6. Pharmacologically-treated (medication/supplements) dyslipidemia. 7. Subjects consuming antibiotics in the previous 1 month. 8. Subjects consuming probiotics and prebiotics at least 1 month prior to inclusion in the study or during the intervention period. 9. Use of drugs or supplements to manage body weight or body fat in the last 3 months. 10. Use of laxatives or fiber supplements in the past 4 weeks. 11. History of chronic active inflammatory disorders. 12. History of bariatric surgery. 13. History of any chronic gastrointestinal disease (e.g. IBD). 14. Regular use of systemic or inhaled corticosteroids, or systemic immunomodulatory drugs. 15. Significant change in tobacco, snuff, nicotine and e-cigarette use habits in the past 3 months or planned cessation of the use of these products during the trial. 16. Active or recent (last 3 months) participation in a weight loss program (diet and/or exercise). 17. Weight change (increase or loss) of 3 kg during the past 3 months. 18. Pregnant or planning pregnancy during the study or breastfeeding. 19. Participation in a clinical trial with an investigational product or drug within 60 days prior to screening. 20. Illicit drug users. 21. Alcohol abusers. 22. Known hypersensitivity to any ingredients in the active or placebo products.