Skip to content

Reply to comment

Avoid skinny people

September 21, 2007 by Anonymous, 2 years 9 weeks ago
Comment id: 25049

From the study the evidence supports the idea that AD-36 is the cause of stem cells tranforming to fat cells and these fat being more "fatty" then usual. The immune system eventually destories the virus, leaving the extra fat cells which do what fat cells do, accumulate fat.

Why do skinny people test positive for AD-36? They may have caught AD-36, but there immune system reacted quickly enough to kill the virus before it could do much harm. They may have had a jump start by having had another in the adenovirus family, that does not promote weight gain. There may be other genetic or environmental contibutors. Follow-up studies would be interesting on these possibilities.

Why do not all fat people test positive for AD-36? There are many reasons for weight gain. Nothing in the study suggests infection is required for weight gain. Only that infection CAN lead to weight gain in SOME people.

That being said, there is no reason anyone should avoid fat people. The weight gain occurs after infectious period. The contrary is more appropiate. Fat people are more likely to have already had and got over the infectious virus. Skinny people with pink eye and respiritory colds are the ones you should avoid.

Reply



About us

Science Blog was started in August 2002. It lives, breathes and eats press releases from research organizations around the globe. Most of what you read here are press releases from the outfits named in the stories themselves. Got a news story you think belongs here? Let's talk. The other half of the equation is blog posts from readers like you. So if you have an interest in science, please register and join others like you in an ongoing, vibrant dialog about what makes the world tick. Meantime, please take a minute to read our Privacy Policy and Site Disclaimer.