Infectobesity
Encyclopedia
The term "infectobesity" refers to obesity
of infectious origin and the emerging field of medical research that studies the relationship between pathogens (disease-causing organisms, such as viruses and bacteria) and weight gain. The term was coined in 2001 by Dr. Nikhil V. Dhurandhar
, at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. (Dhurandhar, 2001).
has been shown to differ between lean and obese humans. There is an indication that gut flora in obese and lean individuals can affect the metabolic potential. This apparent alteration of the metabolic potential is believed to confer a greater capacity to harvest energy contributing to obesity. Whether these differences are the direct cause or the result of obesity has yet to be determined unequivocally.
The fat virus is the popular name for the concept that some obesity in humans and other animals has a viral
source. The AD-36
adenovirus has been observed to increase the amount of body fat on laboratory animals, an effect that has been duplicated on chickens and monkeys. Human testing has not been committed on grounds of research ethics however antibodies to the virus have been detected in obese individuals in higher percentages than in non-obese people.
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
of infectious origin and the emerging field of medical research that studies the relationship between pathogens (disease-causing organisms, such as viruses and bacteria) and weight gain. The term was coined in 2001 by Dr. Nikhil V. Dhurandhar
Nikhil Dhurandhar
Dr. Nikhil V. Dhurandhar is a university professor who has published details about the adipogenic effect of the human adenovirus AD-36 or Adv36 on laboratory animals , and also its association with human obesity....
, at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. (Dhurandhar, 2001).
Bacteria
The study of the effect of infectious agents on metabolism is still in its early stages. Gut floraGut flora
Gut flora consists of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of animals and is the largest reservoir of human flora. In this context, gut is synonymous with intestinal, and flora with microbiota and microflora....
has been shown to differ between lean and obese humans. There is an indication that gut flora in obese and lean individuals can affect the metabolic potential. This apparent alteration of the metabolic potential is believed to confer a greater capacity to harvest energy contributing to obesity. Whether these differences are the direct cause or the result of obesity has yet to be determined unequivocally.
Viruses
An association between viruses and obesity has been found in humans as well as a number of different animal species. The amount that these associations may have contributed to the rising rate of obesity is yet to be determined.The fat virus is the popular name for the concept that some obesity in humans and other animals has a viral
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
source. The AD-36
AD-36
Human adenovirus 36 or Ad-36 or Adv36 is one of 52 types of adenoviruses known to infect humans. AD-36 was first isolated in 1978 from the feces of a girl suffering from diabetes and enteritis, and has long been recognized as a cause of respiratory and eye infections in humans.It was first shown...
adenovirus has been observed to increase the amount of body fat on laboratory animals, an effect that has been duplicated on chickens and monkeys. Human testing has not been committed on grounds of research ethics however antibodies to the virus have been detected in obese individuals in higher percentages than in non-obese people.
See also
- Causes of obesity
- ObesogenObesogenObesogens are foreign chemical compounds that disrupt normal development and balance of lipid metabolism, which in some cases, can lead to obesity...
- Systemic inflammation and obesity
External links
- Infectobesity: obesity of infectious origin. Adv Food Nutr Res. 2007 52: 61-102
- Fat Factors - Article in The New York Times Magazine, August 13, 2006
- Can Bad Bacteria and Parasites Make You Fat? Infectobesity Examined - Article on MotleyHealth.com, August 15, 2009