Adenovirus linked to Obesity – Is if fact or just hype?

PR Log (Press Release) – Jan 26, 2009 – I just watched a news report that a virus called the Adenovirus, or AD-36 can be linked to obesity. The Adenovirus is a viral infection that new reports claim can be caught by being coughed on or having physical communication from another human being who carries the virus. The premise that researchers claim is that the Adenovirus (AD-36) can transform adult stem cells obtained from fat tissue into fat cells, thus causing more fat cells to appear throughout someone’s system.

I wonder what researchers are making this claim and who they work for, or who they are getting their funding from. I wouldn’t be surprised that if a money trail was traced, the funds may originate from pharmaceutical companies that are looking to capitalize on the media hype, the fear, and panic that a claim like this could manufacture in overweight individuals.

The CDC has confirmed that over 1/3 of the adult population in the United States are obese. Over 2/3 are overweight. These numbers represent a threat that far outweighs any economic threat due to Wall Street or wasteful Government spending. Each year, billions upon billions of dollars are spent on Healthcare costs, sick leave, and missed days from work, all directly pointing to the issues associated with obesity and illness.

This is the largest epidemic this Country has ever faced. It’s peculiar as to why just now we have found a virus that causes obesity. We’ve been able to land a spacecraft on the moon with pinpoint accuracy, yet we’ve only found out today that a virus causes the largest epidemic we’ve ever seen. Is it a fact, or a way for certain companies to capitalize on people’s fears during a tough economic time?

I think the latter. The next thing we’ll hear is that you can catch the Adenovirus by eating fast food. That must be it. It’s in the grease and the Trans fats you find in fatty burgers and French fries. Or maybe they’ll say that if you overeat, you’ll spark a chemical reaction in your body that causes the manifestation of this virus.

I applaud science for making some Earth shattering discoveries. I respect the many scientists and researchers that spend a lifetime trying to fight real diseases. What I don’t respect are people who use fear and panic to line their own pockets.

I’m not saying this is definitely the case with this virus, only time will tell. What I am saying is that it seems very hard to believe that with our Science being on the forefront of technology, we have just found a virus that can be caught from another person by coughing, and that causes obesity.

I wonder what your feelings are about this.