Marc Bates, a leading metabolic health coach, released a comprehensive YouTube video critique examining a 2025 gut bacteria study funded by Novo Nordisk Foundation. The analysis questions whether pharmaceutical companies are using research to develop new GLP-1 products rather than advancing legitimate scientific understanding.

The study, titled "Polypeptides synthesized by common bacteria in the human gut improve rodent metabolism," investigated how engineered gut bacteria influence metabolic hormones in rats. Bates identified the research's connection to Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical giant behind Ozempic.

"I was wondering why Novo Nordisk was funding research on another GLP product, GLP-1 product," Bates stated in his video analysis. "It was quite obvious that this was another research study designed to create a product, not to prove out something."

The metabolic health expert highlighted significant limitations in the rodent-only study. These include lack of human dosage information, absence of long-term safety data, and failure to account for individual gut microbiome variations based on diet and sex differences.

Bates emphasized that established dietary interventions can naturally influence the same metabolic hormones targeted by pharmaceutical approaches. His recommendations include reducing carbohydrate intake, consuming adequate protein, and implementing time-restricted eating patterns.

The analysis advocates for scientific skepticism when evaluating industry-funded research, particularly when studies align with potential product development strategies.