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Common Virus Linked to Obesity

Fat cells exposed to virus grow in size and number

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 21, 2007 8:07 AM CDT

(Newser) – A virus that causes sore throats and eye infections may also contribute to obesity, new research suggests. leaving infected people with more and larger fat cells than uninfected people have. The discovery could lead to the development of anti-obesity vaccines and may help explain why some obese people have healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, the Guardian reports.

Obese people in a study released yesterday were three times more likely than the nonobese to be infected with adenovirus-36, which causes throat infections and pinkeye. Stem cells exposed to a-36 in the lab grew in both size and number, indicating for the first time a link between the virus and weight gain, a connection already established in a-36-infected animals.

A food booth that features deep-freed goodies is pictured at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007.  All of the deep-fried items are being cooked in oil free of the trans fats linked to obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Indiana is the first state to make the...
A food booth that features deep-freed goodies is pictured at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug 8, 2007. All of the deep-fried items are being cooked in oil free of the trans fats...   (Associated Press)
EmmaLee Duckworth, center, 5, walks with her mother Jessica Duckworth, left, and her grandmother, Colette Newman after exercising in a program at the Children's Medical Center to help families with overweight children get healthier, Tuesday, March 6, 2007, in Dallas. The program is one of many across the United States...
EmmaLee Duckworth, center, 5, walks with her mother Jessica Duckworth, left, and her grandmother, Colette Newman after exercising in a program at the Children's Medical Center to help families with overweight...   (Associated Press)
Children's Medical Center employee Terry Wade, left, lines up others behind EmmaLee Duckworth, center, 5, to play in a game of kickball during a program at Children's Medical Center to help families with overweight children get healthier, Tuesday, March 6, 2007, in Dallas. The program is one of many across...
Children's Medical Center employee Terry Wade, left, lines up others behind EmmaLee Duckworth, center, 5, to play in a game of kickball during a program at Children's Medical Center to help families with...   (Associated Press)
Analia Pecollo celebrates after realizing she lost around 11 kilograms during the TV show  Cuestion de Peso (A matter of weight) in Buenos Aires, Tuesday, June 5, 2007 . Cuestion de Peso is a show designed for people suffering obesity which offers the opportunity to receive treatment. According to an official...
Analia Pecollo celebrates after realizing she lost around 11 kilograms during the TV show " Cuestion de Peso" (A matter of weight) in Buenos Aires, Tuesday, June 5, 2007 . "Cuestion de Peso" is a show...   (Associated Press)
Participants stand during the TV show Cuestion de Peso (A matter of weight) in Buenos Aires, Wednesday, June 6, 2007. Cuestion de Peso is a show designed for people suffering obesity which offers the opportunity to receive treatment. According to an official report, half of the Argentine population has overweight...
Participants stand during the TV show "Cuestion de Peso" (A matter of weight) in Buenos Aires, Wednesday, June 6, 2007. "Cuestion de Peso" is a show designed for people suffering obesity which offers...   (Associated Press)
Participants of the TV show  Cuestion de Peso (A matter of weight) exercise in Buenos Aires,Thursday, June 21, 2007 .Cuestion de Peso is a show designed for people suffering obesity which offers the opportunity to receive treatment. According to an official report, half of the Argentine population has overweight...
Participants of the TV show " Cuestion de Peso" (A matter of weight) exercise in Buenos Aires,Thursday, June 21, 2007 ."Cuestion de Peso" is a show designed for people suffering obesity which offers the...   (Associated Press)
Participants of the TV show Cuestion de Peso (A matter of weight) Amadeo Gomez, left, and Marcela Pecollo joke while making exercises in Buenos Aires, Thursday, June 21, 2007 .Cuestion de Peso is a show designed for people suffering obesity which offers the opportunity to receive treatment. According to an...
Participants of the TV show "Cuestion de Peso" (A matter of weight) Amadeo Gomez, left, and Marcela Pecollo joke while making exercises in Buenos Aires, Thursday, June 21, 2007 ."Cuestion de Peso" is...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Liu Jia, a 7-year-old boy weighing 60 kilograms, performs rope skipping during a party for fat persons in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province in this July 23, 2004 file photo. Dance classes will soon be mandatory for Chinese secondary...
In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Liu Jia, a 7-year-old boy weighing 60 kilograms, performs rope skipping during a party for fat persons in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning...   (Associated Press)
Prevalence of obese men and women since 1960.
Prevalence of obese men and women since 1960.   (Associated Press)
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