Gyarmati P, Song Y, Dotimas J, et al. - Using a cross-sectional study design, researchers sought to describe the faecal microbiota composition, diversity, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes (F/B ratio) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in different weight categories (lean, overweight, obesity classes 1-3) of children ages 5 to 12 years. Eighty-three samples from different weight categories (27.7% lean, 11% overweight, 15%, 17% and 17% of obesity classes 1, 2, and 3, respectively) were collected and processed. The findings show that severe childhood obesity was correlated with changes in gut microbiome composition that were related to previously reported cardiometabolic disease states in obesity. Increased SCFA levels are associated with obesity-related microbiome metabolic function without a reduction in phyla-level diversity. More species-level characterization of these specimens, as well as longitudinal studies, are required to elucidate these relationships.