Introduction:The intestinal microbiota performs numerous functions in the body: appetite and satiety control, neurotransmitter production and other metabolites. The cepas that compose it are directly influenced by the diet. Certain microorganisms may act on dopamine neurocircuit towards a search for substances that promote the feeling of pleasure which leads to a compulsive addiction and impulsive behaviours as reward. There is plenty information about healthy foods and how to balance the diet to maintain health and longevity. However, it is still very difficult to change unhealthy eating patterns, and the patient is given full responsibility for those behaviours by being asked for "self-control" and "willpower". Is this the individual's own desire or is he stimulated by something else that he is not aware of?Aim: Try to understand the relationship of the microbiota with its host, as well as the microorganisms present in the gut may induce the food preferences.Methodology: For this review work, an extensive search was carried out using several online databases, namely SciELO, PubMed and Google Scholar. Research was also carried out on several websites of international and governmental organizations. Using the keywords "Obesity gut microbiota compulsive eating" produced 4,700 results between the years 2015 and 2019. In the present work, only articles and documents that could be consulted in their full content were used.
Conclusion:Alteration of the intestinal microbiota, mainly due to phylum imbalances, can lead to nutritional unbalance such as obesity, food dependence or compulsive eating. Although further studies are needed, to understand how the microbiota may play an important role in controlling eating disorders.