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FLU VIRUS caused obesity in children

FLU VIRUS caused obesity in children
NOT just because of excessive diet and physical inactivity, obesity in children it can also be caused by infection with influenza virus. A recent study has proved this.
Recent extreme weather changes make the immune system of children declined. They become susceptible to disease that attacks the respiratory, such as fever, cough, and flu. Of the three types of the disease who should be wary of is the flu. Children are often exposed to a type of virus that causes flu (common cold) proved to be at high risk for obese or overweight.
According to recent research published in the journal Pediatrics, the infection of adenovirus-36 (AD36) - one of the virus that causes flu - probably play a major role in causing obesity of children. Conclusions of the study showed, children with obesity are less likely to get a positive result for antibodies to the virus than peers who are thinner.
Previously, several studies have linked obesity and viral infection with AD36 possible cause of obesity since studies in animals have shown that the virus is increased fat in the body. However, the nature of the connection problem is not yet understood. This virus may be causing weight gain or perhaps people who are obese are more prone to infection AD36.
According to information cited in the study, about 17 percent of the children in the United States today are obese. As a result, the children get the health problems associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure and diabetes that were previously only seen in adults. This fact makes all those concerned, including the United States First Lady, Michelle Obama.
White House and then formed The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity to push rates of obesity in the children up to 5 percent in 2030. Other factors, including unhealthy diet and lack of exercise, also increase the risk of obesity, but infection can also be part of all these problems.
Return to this study the researchers examined 124 children with an average age of 13.6 years. Approximately 54 percent of their declared obesity, while the remaining 46 percent did not. The researchers tested their blood for antibodies to the virus AD36. Antibodies produced by the body in response to infection.
Results showed, overall, 15 percent of participants tested positive for antibodies to the virus AD36, some of them are obese. Specifically, 22 percent of obese children have antibodies against this virus, compared with 7 percent of children who are not fat. Children who test positive for antibody AD36, weighing 35 pounds more than the average of children who tested negative.
"These data support an association between the presence of antibodies specific AD36 and obesity in children," wrote the conclusion of researchers from the University of California, San Diego, United States. "If a causal relationship is established, then it will have considerable implications for prevention and treatment of obesity in childhood," continued this conclusion.
As quoted by the website webmd.com, study researcher Jeffrey Schwimmer, MD, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, USA said, in the United States, of all children are obese, every 1 percent is equal to about 100,000 children.
"We found evidence that adenovirus-36 infection occurs in about 1 of every 7 children in this study," he said. And mostly, he continued, children with evidence of exposure to infection is obese.
"Studies on this long would be needed to determine how big a role (something) that can be attributed to the cause (disease) specific. But there is a possibility that the adenovirus-36 may be relevant to (a cause of disease), a large number of children, "said Schwimmer.
However, can a vaccine to prevent obesity? Nikhil V Dhurandhar, PhD, a professor and head of the laboratory of infection and obesity at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, LA, United States, said this study is a good milestone to examine the AD36 and its role in causing obesity.
"We have studied this matter to the animal in various forms and have found evidence that when infected (virus), animals will fatten," said Dhurandhar, who is a leading scientist in the field of "infectobesity" (obesity because transmitted infections) and has published many research about AD36.
"Relations (flu virus and obesity) has also been seen in adults and now for the first time, we see that might take place also in children," he said. If further studies confirm the relationship between viruses and obesity, it is possible for scientists to develop a vaccine to prevent obesity and it will be a great discovery.
"That is why the basis of this research is really important," said Dhurandhar. The results of this study further raises many interesting questions. "One of them, is there a relationship between children who had been exposed to the virus and now are overweight," said Scott Kahan MD, deputy director of the Weight Management Program at George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
"This research is only a snapshot at a time. So, we were unable to confirm whether due to this virus causes people to suffer from obesity or influencing them to get a certain behavior, "he said. "This study raises many questions that are very reasonable, which requires time and effort in trying to answer that," she added.

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