I have done a lot of research on this topic besides just read this short piece. I learned the the virus is a respiratory infection. I find it interesting because I weighed 89 lbs until I had children, then my weight went up to 102 pounds where it leveled off and I looked and felt quite healthy. Then at age 24 I contracted a serious case of re-occurring bronchitis followed by a chronic sinus infection. Since then I have constantly struggled to keep my weight down, walking 2-5 miles at least three days a week. I don’t frequently eat sweets, junk food or drink sodas, nor do I over eat. Infact I eat 1/3 to 1/ 2 as much as family and friends eat. The medical community has been no help. I AM THRILLED that someone is finally doing research that could help people like me.
Congratulations to all you lucky folks who have never struggled with this issue. Count your blessings and reserve your self righteous judgments for yourselves.

Can we use this virus to our advantage? Administering this to the poor might be the cure to hunger WORLDWIDE! I think they’re onto something big!

Good grief. This is one of the reasons that we’re in the sorry state we’re in—not taking responsibility for our actions. Funny, that this “highly infectious” virus hasn’t reached many other countries… One study (likely paid for by a money grubbing pharmaceutical company) does not yet make for hard scientific fact. And, Paul – it’s the parent who is responsible for “teaching children correct dietary management”, not schools.

To attempt to simplify this issue into a single cause of obesity, or even a handful of factors, is absurd. This virus may very well be one of numerous issues, but it is certainly not the sole cause of obesity, nor is there likely to exist a _single_ cause and _single_ cause alone.

There just may be something to this virus thing. My suspicion has been that something has entered the food chain (i.e., growth hormones in milk) which is causing this high rate of obesity. It might also be some kind of syndrome. I do believe there is something else behind this wave of obesity besides big macs and quarter pounders.

To anyone who believes that it’s all crap, think about all the people who died from stomache ulcers that were caused by “Stress” and all the women who have died from Cervical cancer (yes, we have a vaccine for that too now)

Obesity kills, it’s almost as bad as smoking, anything anyone does that can provide support to turn the tide should be heralded. It’s not all about laziness, for many it is about depression, anxiety, and socio economic pressures, we help people to quit smoking every day, but schools don’t even teach children correct dietary management!!

What I can’t understand is how quick everyone is to dismiss fact at a whim because they can’t deal with the implications. You can’t just treat published, peer-reviewed science like some dumb opinion on a message board…”Oh, that sounds stupid, so I don’t care.” Granted, you should take the study at face value; all it did was establish a correlation, not any kind of mechanism. But insofar as it does apply, it’s FACT whether you like it or not. 1/3 of all obese people DO HAVE AD-36!

Oh, good. More kindling tossed onto the already raging fire that is body size paranoia.

“ZOMG U CAN CATCH IT NOW?! OMG SCREW STIGMATIZATION AND HATRED, MAYBE I SHOULD JUST STAY AWAY FROM FAT PPL ALTOGETHURZ!”

This is the most rediculous thing i have ever heard. I think that instead of blaming an airborne virus you should be blaming the lack of self-control, and laziness that is shown. For ex: No exercise and stuffing your face with fast food.

Before you know it, they’ll be manufacturing a vaccine, heavily advertising this ‘epidemic’, and will charge hundreds of dollars for a series of shots.

blah

So if fat people carry this virus, should we stay away from them?

I don’t really think this has to do with perfection, if fact I am far from perfect. However, I am a scientist, and I know how many badly done studies are published, and even how much data is falsified. It is just a matter of logic. How likely is this with everything else we know about obesity? Is it likely that people are latching on to this study because it is good science, or it tells them something they would like to believe?

You should know that tests have already proven this to be fact. Granted the tests were done on rats….the reality is there are some who no matter how hard they exercise and control their diet, their body does not change. Yes it is a small percentage, but who are we to judge. Take a good hard look at yourself in the mirror, are you perfect?

Yeah, I guess they don’t have that virus in France, must just be a local, American product!

I definitely think if you were to analyze the amount of energy used by a person and the amount taken in as food, you would find a better relationship between excess calories and excess body weight than the incidence of viral infection and excess weight. I doubt the epidemic of obesity in the US is due to a virus, but probably due to what we eat. Many other countries have a much lower incidence of obesity, and may have living conditions that might promote a virus. Also, the concepts “highly infectious” and “very rare” make me wonder…

Amy, amy, amy… obvious a skinny girl who never had to worry about her weight. You probably believe all cancer patients did something to cause that too. Judgemental ignorance,,, not pretty!

the fat bug - great name; yeah maybe .001% of the population has a genetic defect but the rest of the obese population has no excuse but a lack of self control. get a fing life and stop shoving entenmans down your throat!

Seriously?????? I mean really?

Unfortunately for the naive people who make comments about persons who are overweight, they know very little about how their genetic makeup DOES influence weight loss. There are diseases such as hypothyroidism and diabetes that play such an impact on someone’s ability to lose weight. It can strike a person regardless of their food and/or exercise choices. Become knowledgeable before judging others!