Is AD-36 making you fat?

What if you can catch obesity? In laboratory experiments scientists have discovered that a common virus can cause adult stem cells to turn into fat cells. The human-adenovirus- 36 has been known to cause respiratory and eye infection in humans, but now scientists have isolated one of the viruses genes as being a possible contributing factor in gaining weight. In studies 30% of obese subjects were infected with the virus in comparison to 11% of lean subjects. Although this virus is only possible one of the factors that contribute to over 97 million adults in the United States being overweight or obese, it does suggest that a vaccination may be helpful in combating this epidemic health issue.

Check out the following links from the LA Times and the Science Blog for more details.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-obesity25aug25,0,6864165.story?coll=la-home-center

http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/common-virus-may-contribute-obesity-some-people-13971.html