I was watching NG. and they talked about how obesity is caused by an virus called AD-36.

Supposedly in a test monkeys gained 4 times the amount of fat.

I think that whole program is full of BS, because where do the calories come from to form the excess fatcells?

Anyone have some thoughts on this? Here's a google link:

http://a9.com/obesity%20ad-36

Interesting article...I dont think I believe it just yet, I mean Hey it could be possible, but until there is frther esearch i dont think it will make a serious impact on people. Oh well, good for us that were jumping ahead and trying to get fit.

SUpa

then why isn't the whole world fat? just the US, Great Britain, and Australia for the most part....seems like the more industrialized countries get fat....if it was a virus, I'd think it would strike Asia or Africa first....population density plus lack of medical care would allow it to spread quickly there. I don't buy it! It' just rich countries looking for a reason not to accept the fact that we got fat by eating too many jellybeans.

Sure, everyone is always looking for an excuse, but this virus has been around and been known about for quite some time. It's been proven to increase visceral fat in non-human animals up to 100%. And humans have been tested positively for the antibody (meaning exposure to the virus).



then why isn't the whole world fat? just the US, Great Britain, and Australia for the most part....seems like the more industrialized countries get fat....if it was a virus, I'd think it would strike Asia or Africa first....population density plus lack of medical care would allow it to spread quickly there. I don't buy it! It' just rich countries looking for a reason not to accept the fact that we got fat by eating too many jellybeans.

Just another lame excuse to blame genetics for why you're always going to be fat instead of your mentality.

Maybe if they did a real experiment on those monkeys after injecting half with AD-36 and the others with a placebo and they forced them to eat a clean diet and had them lifting weights... :lol:

I don't doubt the existence of this virus...but, if it can infect all humans, why not use it to our advantage by innoculating those in starving areas of the world with it? surely it wouldn't hurt to give this magical "weight maintaining" virus to sub-saharan africans or the hordes of starving people in parts of Asia... what about cancer patients or elderly who have trouble maintaining their weight? My point is, if it was as easy as "you've got the virus, you will gain fat now," calories in/calories out wouldn't matter. But calories in/calories out DOES matter.

Obesity is NOT an epidemic...it is a public health crisis that has reached epidemic proportions but it is not infectious in nature. We have some of the best public health initiatives in the world in place in this country and it's a virus that is making us fat? Maybe the virus does play some role (maybe 1% of the obesity problem? who knows?). I'm all for research in all areas, no matter how seemingly pointless, but the justification of a societal problem by a mystery virus is ludicrous!

blame the virus, blame the fast food industry, blame our genes, but god forbid you accept the fact that maybe humans just like eating a lot! I know I do (but resist the urge as much as possible of course...heh) I'd bet all my assets that if Africans suddenly had access to the resources we do, they would balloon up instantly and some group of scientists would ignore the pizza huts popping up everywhere and say "well, looks like the virus just made it to Africa...Crap!"

"well, looks like the virus just made it to Africa...Crap!"
Hehe...

The idea of a virus, real or not, gives people who refuse to take responsibility for their weight management hope that there will be a miracle cure someday, that they will be able to take without having to do any work or change their habits any.

interesting read.

rubberbandman has an excellent argument for why this virus would be beneficial -- you ever see a cancer patient lose 50 lbs in a SINGLE week and go from 150-100 lbs? i have, and it's not pretty @ all.

however, i can believe, too, that it would cause some people to hold onto fat better than others.

in either case, i'm sure a lot more research has to be done, and it would be a horribly poor excuse for obese people to blame their poor lifestyles on a virus.

Obesity is nothing more than a self inflicted wound. I bought into that crap for the longest time. I was convinced that since my father was fat then it must be genetics. Then I just quit eating so much food and started exercising and no more obesity.

Obesity is nothing more than a self inflicted wound. I bought into that crap for the longest time.

actually, it's not. some people are genetically obese. if diet/exercise/calorie counting cured everything, how do you explain this guy?

http://www.beezodogsplace.com/Pages/Articles/FitandFat/FitandFat.html

he's 5'8, 260 lbs, and has finished 276 triathalons in 37 countries in 17 years. to say he's fit is an understatement -- he'd probably make 99% of this forum pale in comparison with his athletic accomplishments.

u know, some people will never get 6 pack abs. some people will never become ripped. it's not to say they're not fit -- quite the contrary. just because they will never look like a fitness model or bodybuilder doesn't have anything to do with their physical fitness.

it always cracks me up how people find the 'buffest' looking guys to be the 'toughest.' then those buff guys get the crap beat out of them by a lard ass named george foreman or butterbean. fitness has nothing to do with how you look. it's how you perform.

sorry for the rant. i apologize in advance in case i might have offended anybody with the truth.

good point jtchen22.

I personally don't think that "fit" and "obese" can describe the same person. If a person is large, and fit, they are not obese.