so twinkies for everybody...
Posted on 08/20/2007 1:44:54 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A common virus caused human adult stem cells to turn into fat cells and could explain why some people become obese, U.S. researchers said on Monday.
The research builds on prior studies of adenovirus-36 -- a common cause of respiratory and eye infections -- and it may lead to an obesity vaccine, they said.
"We're not talking about preventing all types of obesity, but if it is caused by this virus in humans, we want a vaccine to prevent this," said Nikhil Dhurandhar, an associate professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University System.
The virus adenovirus-36 or Ad-36, caused animals to pack on the pounds in lab experiments. "These animals accumulated a lot of fat," Dhurandhar said in a telephone interview.
Dhurandhar also has shown that obese people were three times more likely to have been infected with Ad-36 than thin people in a large study of humans.
Now, researchers in Dhurandhar's lab have shown that exposure to the virus caused adult human stem cells to turn into fat-storing cells.
Dr. Magdalena Pasarica, who led the study, obtained adult stem cells from fat tissue of people who had undergone liposuction. Stem cells are a type of master cell that exist in an immature form and give rise to more specialized cells.
Half of the stem cells were exposed to the virus Ad-36. After a week, most of the infected stem cells developed into fat cells, while the uninfected cells were unchanged.
Pasarica presented her findings at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.
"The virus appears to change their commitment to a fat storing cell," Dhurandhar said, adding that Ad-36 is just one of 10 pathogens linked to obesity and that more may be out there.
He acknowledged that some people might find it hard to believe that a virus could be responsible for obesity.
"Certainly overeating has something to do with gaining weight. No doubt about that. But that is not the whole truth," Dhurandhar said. "There are multiple causes of obesity. They range from simple overeating to genes to metabolism and perhaps viruses and infections."
Long term, he said he hoped to develop a vaccine and perhaps treatments for the virus. But first, he and colleagues need to better understand the role of Ad-36 in human obesity, he said.
Globally, around 400 million people are obese, including 20 million children under age 5, according to the World Health Organization.
Well these scientists may well know more than you do.
Until we find out for sure, I’m know what I see. You know that you are absolutely right.
We’ll find out who is in time.
Let’s face facts. Fat kills. I would never disparage a person for their weight but anyone who cares about an obese person better accept that that person is not going to live very long. Ever see an obese person in their 80’s or 90’s - even in the 70’s is very hard - I can’t recall ANY. Think about it.
1. She should lift weights 3 days a week. She will lose inches and it is better for her bones.
2. She is not eating enough. Someone else mentioned she is in starvation mode. Not healthy.
3. Have her eliminate all sugar, and all refined flour. She will lose weight. Check out the no sugar, no flour diet.
It is far from established that there is any such form of obesity. My money is on the obvious fact that fat people typically eat far too much and exercise too little.
ah but imagine a person who has a minor medical cause for weight gain being constantly berated.
It becomes a trigger for eating and a added weight gain.
If this is confirmed, both can be addressed simultaneously.
(humor on)
AT LAST NO MORE SITTING NEXT TO LARGE PEOPLE ON AIRPLANES!!!!!
(humor off)
ok don’t quit day job....
“....it is about calorie intake and calorie burn.”
EXACTLY! Why do people think (as you said barring some kind of abnormality) that it’s anything else. I used to work with some great people - sports medicine guys - that taught me a lot about this stuff. It’s very simple physiology, chemistry, and mathematics.
egi soma egi mialo.
healty body healty mind.
taking no chances off to gym :-)
I realize my example of “camps” was an extreme, but that’s my point. If those people really would’ve stayed FAT due to some metabolic thing, than they should’ve remained at least pleasingly plump.
However, my real reason for responding to your post is that you brought up a very good point. People, such as your wife (and my friend - size 0) often eat very poorly and because they don’t have any outward symptoms (e.g. weight gain), they are often very sick on the inside.
Good nutrition is smart for everyone. I’m not perfect but I’m continuing to learn and put into practice what I know - though it is not always easy.
My mom was so polite that she described fat people as ‘fleshy.’ LOL (Bless her soul)
There were two problem with the food pyramid they taught when I was in school. 1 it has a heavy emphasis on carbs which are great if you have an active lifestyle but not so great if you’re not. 2 I never felt they adequately explained what a “serving” was, there’s all kind of “x servings of this” but what’s a serving, like a bagel is actually 3 to 4 servings of grain, IMHO in normal person logic a bagel is 1 serving maybe I can go with a half bagel is 1 serving and therefore a bagel is 2, but 3 or 4 just doesn’t make sense.
And it is hard to lose weight. I know this well, when I got rid of 65 pounds (I like to avoid “lost”, most of the time when you lose something you want it back, I don’t want the weight back) that was attempt #4 (at least) and it took two years to get to my goal. And one has to be careful to not under eat, and to make sure you keep all the nutritional necessities, and sticking to an exercise program is tough if you’re not normally an exercise person. It’s a hard road to hoe and I give lots of encouragement to anyone I know on the path.
I totally agree with you. Many nutritionists have cited the cause-effect of high fructose corn syrup with the increase in obesity. That crap is in EVERYTHING, even catsup and things one would never think it’s in. I try to avoid it like the plague. Sugar is worse than heroin in some ways.
so twinkies for everybody...
So now we are not under the weather wehen we feel poorly, we are over the belt, instead?
The whole grains might not be a good recommendation. Especially if she is gluten intolerant. Never mind that most grains are loaded with starches that are completely unnecessary. Better to fill that calorie void with non-starchy vegetables. Lots more good nutrition.
We could use this to invect those with anorexia maybe?
I don’t know what kind of weight you are talking about. Not everyone is going to be thin, willowy, or svelte, and pleasingly plump may be genetic but you know if your daughter is leaning towards an obesity problem and if you are worried, there’s good reason to get her to see a doctor to make sure nothing is wrong physiologically. I’d try to nip it in the bud. Not everyone was meant to be rail thin, and a lot of women in the 30’s looked very healthy (before a lot of women smoked) but obesity is an illness and it kills. It robs people of their vitality, it trashes their joints, and can cause diabetes, heart disease and a number of other killer problems.
I used to host a big band show and had that song requested many times.
She and Daddy have a secret stash of candy.
Maybe it’s not as secret as you think.:)
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