Ahhhh yes....of course.

Updated: 1 hour, 35 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The size of your gut may be partly shaped by which microbes call it home, according to new research linking obesity to types of digestive bacteria.

Both obese mice — and people — had more of one type of bacteria and less of another kind, according to two studies published Thursday in the journal Nature.

A “microbial component” appears to contribute to obesity, said study lead author Jeffrey Gordon, director of Washington University’s Center for Genome Sciences.

Also mildly considered as possible causes of obesity were the following:

• Seconds on top of seconds with the mashed potatoes
• Carrying a napkin everywhere because a good boy scout is "always prepared"
• 24 piece KFC buckets, and asking the person who joined you, "are you eating too?"
• Dining at a Denny's and ordering "Page 3".
• Being the captain of the EA Sports Madden Football team
• A file cabinet at work that has no files in it because the donut stash is in there
• A recently discovered "microbial metallic component" in your hand known as a fork

Eating all the time has also been loosely linked to obesity, but so far no one in the medical establishment has confirmed this to be concrete fact.