Squashing the big fat bug Catching a cold is no one's idea of a good time. But most of us have accepted them as a pretty harmless nuisance and just do our best to avoid them as much as possible. It turns out, though, that what we thought was a harmless case of the sniffles might have put us at risk for something much more deadly: an increased risk of obesity. In August, researchers from Louisiana State University released findings from a study they'd done that links a common virus strain to increased fat cell production. The virus, called adenovirus-36 or Ad-36, is the culprit behind about 5 percent of all respiratory infections (including colds, pneumonia, and everything in between). While the researchers knew from previous studies that nearly 30 percent of obese people vs. just 11 percent of normal weight people have been infected with Ad-36, they expanded on this information with their discoveries. The Louisiana State researchers found that infection with this particular virus can trigger stem cells to turn into something called a "pre-fat cell." They also found that these virus- induced pre-fat cells hold more fat than regular pre-fat cells. The next phase of research will focus on determining why some people who have been infected with the Ad-36 virus are able to escape these obesity-related effects. In the meantime, though, I have to admit I'm a bit wary of this finding and the big splash it made in the media. While I'm certainly not denying the link the researchers uncovered, I am concerned that this will add to the blame-dodging mentality so many Americans have when it comes to weight loss (i.e. "Those extra pounds aren't my fault -- a virus caused them!"). But just because there's more information about potential factors involved in obesity doesn't mean you should sit back and wait for the next weight loss "magic bullet," which will likely be some sort of vaccine against the Ad-36 virus. (We all know how reliable vaccines are, after all…) Whether or not scientists ever figure out how to cope with this particular aspect of obesity, there are steps you can take starting today to keep the effects of this epidemic from interfering with your life and future. Of course, the problem is, the steps I'm talking about are ones that take time and effort -- two things that, unfortunately, too many people are unwilling to invest in their health. While they may not be as easy as we'd all like, following a healthy diet and making exercise a daily priority are really the best ways to combat obesity. Source:
"Obesity virus: More, bigger fat cells," WebMD Medical News (www.mywebmd.com), 8/20/07 | 
