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Study: Virus may cause obesity in some
By Seth Borenstein
Associated Press
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In the buffet of reasons for why Americans are getting fatter, researchers are piling more evidence on the plate for one still-controversial cause: a virus.

New research announced Monday found that when human stem cells — the blank slate of the cell world — were exposed to a common virus they turned into fat cells. They didn't just change, they stored fat, too.

While this may be a guilt-free explanation for putting on pounds, it doesn't explain all or even most of America's growing obesity problem. But it adds to other recent evidence that blames expanding waistlines on more than just super-sized appetites and underused muscles.

For several years, researchers have looked at a possible link between obesity and this common virus, called adenovirus-36, from a family of viruses that cause colds and pinkeye in people. They had already found that a higher percentage of fat people had been infected with the virus than nonfat people. They had exposed animals to the virus and got them to fatten up and even found a a gene in the virus that causes animals to get obese.

But ethical restraints kept researchers from exposing people to the virus to see what happens. So they did what would be considered the next best thing, said Nikhil Dhurandhar, who headed the research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in the Louisiana State University system.

They took fat tissue from people who had liposuction, removed adult stem cells from the tissue and exposed the cells to the virus in the lab. Adult stem cells can regenerate and turn into different types of specialized cells to help the body heal itself.

More than half the stem cells exposed to the virus turned into fat cells and accumulated fats, while only a small percentage of the non-exposed stem cells did the same, said researcher Dr. Magdalena Pasarica, who presented the results Monday at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting in Boston.

``It's the first time we see an effect in human cells,'' Pasarica said in a phone interview.

If a viral cause of obesity can be confirmed, a vaccine could be developed, maybe within five to 10 years, to prevent the virus from making some people fat, Dhurandhar said. However, it wouldn't help people already obese, he said.

Outside experts are intrigued but worry about people blaming all obesity on viruses, when this may be just one of many causes. It doesn't mean it's OK to overeat, blame a bug or wait for some kind of antivirus medicine, they said.

``The cause for obesity in everyone is the same,'' said Dr. Samuel Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. ``You eat more calories than you burn up; You can't get away from that basic law of physics.''

But there are many causes that trigger overeating and extra storage of fat in the body, including the virus, Klein said. However, he said he considers the virus only a small factor, easily outweighed by genetics and even childhood eating habits.

Dhurandhar said some of his earlier research found that 30 percent of obese Americans had developed antibodies to the virus, showing they had been exposed to it at some point. But for non-obese people, only 11 percent had antibodies, he said.

That means for some people it is not their fault they are fat, Dhurandhar said.

But Klein said that's not completely right.

``We don't want obese people to feel that it's all their fault because it is not all their fault ... but clearly the buck finally lies with the person,'' Klein said.

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Reader comments on this story - 23 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Blame and shame... wrote on Aug 21, 2007 5:01 PM:

" That's really gonna help....no one. Thanks bunches you "oh-so-informed" holier-than-thou folks! "

Pretty selective virus wrote on Aug 21, 2007 2:19 PM:

" How come this virus doesn't seem to strike women in Italia or anywhere on the Med, or Miami Beach for that matter? They must have been innoculated. Share the cure. "

lol wrote on Aug 21, 2007 2:06 PM:

" A group of scientists do a study on, let's say smoking. The study concludes that smoking causes lung cancer, emphazema, etc... everyone who doesn't smoke says "I told ya so." Another group does a study on, let's say teens getting pregnant. The study shows, that more teens are getting pregnant because the only sex education taught in school is abstinence. All the pro choicers say "AHA, WE TOLD YA SO"! However, a group of people more qualified to do this research than you or I, does a study that shows some overweight people are overweight because of a virus. Oh no, not that!!!!! The researchers have got to be wrong. There is no way a medical condition could make someone overweight. Your going to get people like "Another Excuse" blabbing on about nothing. At one time I was overweight, i'm not anymore. It took alot of hard work, and determination but I did it. However, people have got to face facts, not opinions, FACTS, some people are overweight do to health issues, and the last thing they need is for all you self rightous morons bringing them down even further. "

Fatty wrote on Aug 21, 2007 12:43 PM:

" While some medications (not viruses) cause people to gain weight...I think the majority of obese people can blame poor eating habits, and sitting in front of the TV at night. "

So I guess I'm the jerk... wrote on Aug 21, 2007 12:10 PM:

" in this one, right? This is all we need is to have family members at Thanksgiving. Stuffing their face and blaming their weight problem on a "disease." How soon before we find out the way to slow down the virus is to eat more? "

Excuse Queen wrote on Aug 21, 2007 11:11 AM:

" Thank you. I was looking for something to blame my poor eating habits on other than myself. It's a VIRUS!! The virus makes me eat poorly! "

BS wrote on Aug 21, 2007 10:40 AM:

" That is all BS, give me a break. Don't make excuses for obesity. If there are excuses, nothing will be done about it! It all has to do with sitting around watching TV, playing on the computer, and eating all of the disgusting fast food out there. Do you know there is one restaurant, I won't mention the name because then my comment won't be posted, but their Fetuccini alfredo is 2,600 calories. "

LittleMac wrote on Aug 21, 2007 9:28 AM:

" "Another Excuse": I don't know about that. Have you seen Dick Cheney and Denny Hastert lately? "

I have a medical problem!!!! wrote on Aug 21, 2007 8:56 AM:

" I can't help stuffing that last piece of cake in my mouth!!!!! "

Mania wrote on Aug 21, 2007 8:44 AM:

" Scientists discover a new virus that leads to right-wing mania! "

well, what do you know... wrote on Aug 21, 2007 8:41 AM:

" Lack of self-discipline and self-control, they say, is due to a virus. Do you have a habit of slapping your mate around? Not to worry- you've probably just got a virus. It's the "no-fault" society. "

That Girl wrote on Aug 21, 2007 8:21 AM:

" Wow ! Bloomington sure has so many fat women ! When I go to Wal-Mart, I see so many fat poor people stocking up on carts full of soda and snacks. I KNEW it had to be virus or something. I hope they can find a cure soon. "

whatever... wrote on Aug 21, 2007 7:30 AM:

" calories in v. calories out...if you eat to much, and don't get enough exercise...your going to be fat! "

Another excuse wrote on Aug 21, 2007 7:27 AM:

" That lard butts will use to not eat right or exercise. Anyone ever notice that those getting the freebies(welfare) are the fattest? "

Carney wrote on Aug 21, 2007 6:38 AM:

" Is there a virus that causes smoking? "

Old Fart wrote on Aug 21, 2007 6:35 AM:

" I'm not fat; I'm big-boned. Apparently, Big Macs fossilize quickly! "

reader wrote on Aug 21, 2007 6:30 AM:

" That could explain alot of problems in the world,The virus . "

do you care wrote on Aug 20, 2007 9:50 PM:

" Let's take a poll: Who cares why I am fat? nobody, they just say I am a big fat man with no self control. "

Not Fat wrote on Aug 20, 2007 9:49 PM:

" I am not fat, I just have a virus. Doc can I get a pill for this fat? Don't you feed a virus? "

Dr. Orangutan Chief Cardiologist Miller Park Zoo wrote on Aug 20, 2007 8:45 PM:

" The only paragraph in this article that makes sense is..."The cause for obesity in everyone is the same,'' said Dr. Samuel Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. ``You eat more calories than you burn up; You can't get away from that basic law of physics.'' I do agree with MRS. wrote on Aug 20, 2007 6:21 PM: My favorite is dark chocolate dipped bananas. "

batter up wrote on Aug 20, 2007 6:36 PM:

" My girlfriend gave me the fat. Beer bellies dissease is contagious also. "

of course! wrote on Aug 20, 2007 6:31 PM:

" It has nothing to do with the fact that we have a sedentary lifestyle, and do nothing but pack our faces with fat-laden fast food? Whew... thank goodness... all this time I thought it was my bad diet and lack of exercise making me fat. "

MRS. wrote on Aug 20, 2007 6:21 PM:

" My cardiologist told me to eat a dark chocolate candy bar every day. I said woohoo, she said only one. "
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