A woman who had fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) to treat her recurring superbug infection rapidly and unexpectedly gained weight after the procedure. The stool was donated by her daughter.

This medical procedure infuses healthy bacteria into a diseased gut, but according to the doctors it might have affected her waistline. A transplant is usually used when people have stubborn clostridium difficile infection in their bowels.

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This infection can result in vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It can't always be treated with antibiotics.

Dr. Colleen Kelly from the Medical School at Brown University said doctors had discussed the option of fecal transplant and the woman wanted to use a relative as a donor.

Dr. Kelly said the procedure was successful and the woman's infection was successfully treated. She started having problems after the procedure and faces this problem today. The situation led to her gaining weight.

"She has continued to gain weight despite efforts to diet and exercise, and at 36 months post-fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) her weight was 177 pounds (BMI of 34.5). She has also developed constipation and unexplained dyspeptic symptoms," the study authors said.

At the time of the procedure, the woman had a body mass index of 26 but after 16 months her BMI rose to 33 and after three years reached 34.5.

The study says animal models support the fact that FMT may contribute to obesity since an obese microbiota can be transmitted through the process. The authors recommend overweight donors be avoided for FMT.

Research also shows transplanting gut bacteria out of obese people led to weight gain in mice.

TagsFecal Transplant, obesity, obese, fecal microbiota transplant, gut bacteria, medical procedure, body mass index, weight gain