Childhood viral infection causes obesity: Study

Washington, Sep 20: A recent study by University of California revealed childhood viral infection could be one of the causes of obesity.

Dr. Jeffrey B. Schwimmer, associate professor of clinical pediatrics at UC San Diego, and colleagues examined 124 children, ages 8 to 18, for the presence of antibodies specific to adenovirus 36 (AD36).

AD36 is the only human adenovirus currently linked to human obesity.

Children who were AD36-positive weighed almost 50 pounds more, on average, than children who were AD36-negative.

Within the group of obese children, those with evidence of AD36 infection weighed an average of 35 pounds more than obese children who were AD36-negative.

Schwimmer said he hopes this research will help shift some of the burden that falls so heavily upon obese people, in particular children.

ANI