Posted on 09/20/2010 11:26:41 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A contagious virus may be linked to childhood obesity according to a University of California study. The study showed that majority of the children who tested positive for adenovirus 36, also known as AD36, were obese. Relatedly, First Lady Michelle Obama has pleaded with restaurants to take an active stance against childhood obesity by rethinking the food they offered and using low fat alternatives in their menus.
The study conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Schwimmer, principal author of the study and an associate professor of clinical pediatrics, looked for evidence of adenovirus 36 in 124 children ages 8 to 18. The children surveyed were divided into those who were obese and non-obese. Accordingly, it was found that kids who had AD36 (who comprised 78 percent) were obese. Only 22 percent of the children with the adenovirus 36 were not obese.
Schwimmer cautioned that the study is still in the early stages but could have significant contributions in the fight against childhood obesity in the U.S. He noted that, “Childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years.” Schwimmer added, “And nothing has been proven to date as the cause for this enormous increase.”
Adenoviruses come in 55 strains and they are responsible for about 10 percent of minor colds, stomach and intestinal upsets occurring in kids. Schwimmer admits, that further studies are necessary in this area, though he noted, “Studies like this are helpful just by showing how complicated weight management is and moving away from just assigning blame to children and families.”
Meanwhile, First Lady Michelle Obama has urged the National Restaurant Association to join the fight against the growing childhood obesity. Obama urged restaurants to offer healthier food options to children as well as offering smaller portions of the child’s meal.
Michelle Obama also suggested menus to include more fruits and vegetables as well. She said more whole grain foods would be effective in the fight against childhood obesity as well. Obama called upon the food industry to improve their marketing efforts “to make children want to eat less junk.”
The First Lady pointed out that “research shows that kids consume more saturated fat and less fiber and calcium when they eat out and the meals in restaurants have twice as many calories as the meals they eat at home.” She thinks that this is one area where the restaurants can help in the fight against childhood obesity.
Maybe they oughta outlaw restaurants in general. When I was growing up we never went to a restaurant once, a McDonalds about twice a year. Or, ban all video games and TV watching since that makes kids sit around and gain fat. Or, ban snacks at movie theaters, and ration how much people are allowed to buy to eat according to their weight, or or or.............geez, just leave us alone bitch, you and your kid are fat, you have no moral high horse to get on.
Could it be that being a fatty lowers your immunity to this virus?
More like AD36 (or any virus for that matter) is stored in the fat cells until the body has time and/or figures out how to deal with it through elimination. Some bodies deal with it better than others.
Of course,since a majority of children in general are obese, it only stands to reason that a majority of the children with AD36 would also be obese. Therefore, the study only demonstrates correlation - not cause and effect.
Especially non-smoking restaurants!
I got it! We’ll all be tested for adenovirus-AD36.
Those who have it will not receive a card in order to eat at cheap fast food places.
Lobster pounds and ice cream parlors will be exempt from this plan, of course.(Unless they serve food fast)
AD36 sufferers will only be allowed to eat higher priced fats and sugars that is served at a slower pace than faster food.
I do find this fascinating. There are parasites that alter an animal’s behavior. It doesn’t seem that far fetched to think that there could be a virus that stimulates the appetite.
About six years ago, I suddenly gained 25 pounds. I was already 20 pounds overweight, so that next jump really hit me hard. I wasn’t eating more - I was actually eating a lot less. The weight just plopped on. For six years, I’ve been fighting it, but it’s like my body’s new “set point” is 25 pounds higher.
In my case, I’d developed two endocrine system disorders: PCOS and hypothyroidism.
I don’t think that a virus alone would cause weight gain, but I could see a virus setting off another issue that would. Colds are associated with the onset of Type 1 diabetes. Could a cold be associated with the onset of a thyroid disorder? With T2 diabetes? With a metabolism shift? With an increase in appetite? Could a virus cause a person’s body to stop producing a hormone that signaled that it was full?
I don’t see why not.
My body went crazy after having the flu about 9 years ago. My immune system began attacking my lungs and scarred them up pretty badly.
I’d swear that I read a similar article at least 10 years ago.
The mechanism that I read before stated that obesity was caused by a virus (they even identified the virus) and that while you have an active infection, your fat cells divide to form more fat cells (something they don’t normally do). When you finally shed the virus, you are left with way more fat cells that normal. The fat cells will behave like normal fat cells, its just that you have so many more of them, thus you are then obese.
Cripes, all these threads...
WHOLE GRAIN
WHOLE GRAIN
WHOLE GRAIN
That’s the freakin problem!!!!
TOO MANY CARBS!!!!!
“eating out”
what a luxury, surely everyone does that regularly these days. And when we do, we want carrots and apple slices with our lobsta.
sarc
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