Obesity may be caused by a virus

[InfiniteNothing]

A study by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (http://www.wisc.edu/), has found that the human adenovirus Ad-37 causes obesity in chickens.
The finding supports evidence from other studies that two related viruses, Ad-36 and Ad-5, also cause obesity in animals.
According to Leah D. Whigham, the lead researcher in the new study, human adenoviruses may cause human obesity, but more research is needed before a screening test and vaccine become reality.
She says there is mounting evidence that certain viruses may cause obesity, in essence making obesity contagious, but the viruses that cause human obesity need to be identified before a screening test and vaccine can be developed.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=15686
I buy it because I know a couple who went to florida for just a few years and balloned unusually quickly.

[MikeD]

I think caloric intake causes obesity. ;)

Calories in vs. calories out. Pretty simple. Eating too much and not burning enough calories is normally the culprit.

[InfiniteNothing]

Yeah, this study is kinda contrary to that kind of thinking. While it's still true, it oversimplifies the problem.

It's a bit like saying Uranium atoms being too close together caused Chernobyl.

[Grimm]

I think caloric intake causes obesity. ;)

Calories in vs. calories out. Pretty simple. Eating too much and not burning enough calories is normally the culprit.
True, but the regulatory mechanisims of the body should discourage people from gaining too much weight. Viruses could be interfering with those mechanisims.

[Kevster]

True, but the regulatory mechanisims of the body should discourage people from gaining too much weight. Viruses could be interfering with those mechanisims.

Many people are not aware that weight gain is one of the common side effects associated with many antidepressant/antipsychotic/anticonvulsant (and other) drugs. Many prescribed drugs have this side effect, and it is one of the biggest problems with drug compliance in patients (they stop taking their medication because of the weight gain side effects).

While it has been observed that many prescription drugs cause weight gain, the reason for it is still unknown. It is now thought that they interfere with normal blood sugar/insulin regulation and cause hyperinsulinemia (elevated insulin in the blood) and thus increased appetite. If a virus could also interfere with this process, then that could also be one of the causes of abnormal weight gain/obesity.

[Merlin]

I find it impossible to believe that all these people are permanently fat because they temporarily caught a virus.

[MikeD]

True, but the regulatory mechanisims of the body should discourage people from gaining too much weight. Viruses could be interfering with those mechanisims.

I disagree (to an extent). Your body will react to what you put it in. If you put in too much, the body will store the excess as fat. Continually repeating this process will continually add fat.

Could a virus alter this mechanism? Sure...but I doubt highly that this often occurs or is one of the main culprits of obesity. People eating waaay to much food is what causes obesity.

Very few people know how their bodies react to what they eat, or don't eat for that matter. For example, the body will burn muscle stores more easily than fat stores when faced with starvation.

Bottom line: people don't take care of themselves, and aren't knowledgable enough to do so. It's brought on oneself, not a virus.

[InfiniteNothing]

What makes you think it's a temporary virus? (as opposed to something like aids) It seems to work on the chickens.

On another note, you think farmers are going to try and fatten up chickens by infecting them?


I disagree (to an extent). Your body will react to what you put it in. If you put in too much, the body will store the excess as fat. Continually repeating this process will continually add fat.

Could a virus alter this mechanism? Sure...but I doubt highly that this often occurs or is one of the main culprits of obesity. People eating waaay to much food is what causes obesity.

What evidence is making you "highly" doubt that? Why couldn't a virus cause someone to eat too much food? it seems to work on chickens


Very few people know how their bodies react to what they eat, or don't eat for that matter. For example, the body will burn muscle stores more easily than fat stores when faced with starvation.

Bottom line: people don't take care of themselves, and aren't knowledgable enough to do so. It's brought on oneself, not a virus.
Again, what evidence are you basing that on? This study seems to indicate that it is not always "brought on oneself".

[Grimm]

I disagree (to an extent). Your body will react to what you put it in. If you put in too much, the body will store the excess as fat. Continually repeating this process will continually add fat.

Could a virus alter this mechanism? Sure...but I doubt highly that this often occurs or is one of the main culprits of obesity. People eating waaay to much food is what causes obesity.

Very few people know how their bodies react to what they eat, or don't eat for that matter. For example, the body will burn muscle stores more easily than fat stores when faced with starvation.

Bottom line: people don't take care of themselves, and aren't knowledgable enough to do so. It's brought on oneself, not a virus.
Well, after a certain point, food should become unatractive to people. Once all the nutrative requirements are met and the body is carrying enough fat to see it through winter, the addition of addition calories would make a person less likely to survive. And the people who got too fat shold have died off, leaving the people who had an appropriate level of fat to reproduce.

[Cubsfan]

I could believe that there is a virus that could cause obesity, but on the other hand, I don't think that this would be the most widespread cause.

First off, how would it be transmitted? I know plenty of couples where one is fat and the other isn't, so kissing/air doesn't seem likely, and you would think that environmental factors would be too simmilar for one to be infected and one not. If it's blood, then that also seems unlikely to be widespread.

I think that other factors, such as eating too much and not moving around enough, are far more likely to be the cause of the bulk of obesity.

[MikeD]

What evidence is making you "highly" doubt that? Why couldn't a virus cause someone to eat too much food? it seems to work on chickens

I never said that it couldn't. My evidence: take a look at any restaurant these days. Do you see what people eat? Look at your co-workers on their lunch break. Look at kids these days, and what they eat. Look at the grocery stores and what people buy. PEOPLE DON'T EAT WELL...it's all around you. To say that a virus could be the culprit for people being obese...well, like I said: it could happen, but I doubt that it happens often (at all).


Again, what evidence are you basing that on? This study seems to indicate that it is not always "brought on oneself".

It's more common sense. I'm aware of what's going on around me (in this case, what people eat).

[InfiniteNothing]

I could believe that there is a virus that could cause obesity, but on the other hand, I don't think that this would be the most widespread cause.

First off, how would it be transmitted? I know plenty of couples where one is fat and the other isn't, so kissing/air doesn't seem likely, and you would think that environmental factors would be too simmilar for one to be infected and one not. If it's blood, then that also seems unlikely to be widespread.

I think that other factors, such as eating too much and not moving around enough, are far more likely to be the cause of the bulk of obesity.

I imagine it's transmitted by fluids. In the case of the couple where one is fat, maybe that's because of stress, metabolism, etc. Also, the study mentions that not every chicken that gets the virus gets fat. I'm guessing there's a combination trigger.




I never said that it couldn't. My evidence: take a look at any restaurant these days. Do you see what people eat? Look at your co-workers on their lunch break. Look at kids these days, and what they eat. Look at the grocery stores and what people buy. PEOPLE DON'T EAT WELL...it's all around you. To say that a virus could be the culprit for people being obese...well, like I said: it could happen, but I doubt that it happens often (at all).



It's more common sense. I'm aware of what's going on around me (in this case, what people eat).

That's anecdotal evidence. I've seen people who eat poorly end up skinny or fat. I'm not saying it's not a factor at all, there are just other factors along with it.

How can you explain why everyone in the world is getting fat not just the US?


The study says the simultaneous increase in the prevalence of obesity in most countries of the world is difficult to explain by changes in food intake and exercise alone, and suggests that adenoviruses could have contributed.

For those that say it MUST be over eating:


Chickens inoculated with Ad-37 had much more visceral fat and body fat compared with the chickens infected with Ad-2, Ad-31 or the control group, even though they didn't eat any more.

[MikeD]

Well, after a certain point, food should become unatractive to people.

Very, very true...but how often have you heard someone say "Boy, I'm stuffed!" and then eat some dessert. Or finish all of the food on the table for no reason? Food should become unattractive, but it doesn't stop folks from eating it.


Once all the nutrative requirements are met and the body is carrying enough fat to see it through winter, the addition of addition calories would make a person less likely to survive. And the people who got too fat shold have died off, leaving the people who had an appropriate level of fat to reproduce.

Ehhh, but we aren't Cro-Magnons anymore. People can survive with huge stores of fat. Need proof? Take a trip to your local mall this weekend and see some of the folks walking (waddling) around...


How can you explain why everyone in the world is getting fat not just the US?

They are, but not at the same rates.

As for how, that's easy: it's the ease of life we have these days. You don't walk to school any longer, you ride a bus. You don't climb stairs, you take the elevator. You don't walk to the local market, you drive your car. Hell, you don't even go to the local market; you sit on your fat ass and order your stuff online. Come on, this is easy stuff here.

Are you saying that the most common cause of obesity is a virus? I'm asking because I never completely discounted the virus...are you completey discounting the human factor?

[guiseppewv]

This thread reminds me of a Dennis Leary skit.

[InfiniteNothing]

They are, but not at the same rates.
As for how, that's easy: it's the ease of life we have these days. You don't walk to school any longer, you ride a bus. You don't climb stairs, you take the elevator. You don't walk to the local market, you drive your car. Hell, you don't even go to the local market; you sit on your fat ass and order your stuff online. Come on, this is easy stuff here.

So everyone in the world is ordering food online? You're naming US only factors. You have to explain why everyone is getting fatter.


Are you saying that the most common cause of obesity is a virus? I'm asking because I never completely discounted the virus...are you completey discounting the human factor?

The human factor? If you're asking if I think the US isn't getting enough exercise my answer is yes. You discounted the virus factor when you said:


Calories in vs. calories out. Pretty simple.


So help me out a bit with your logic. You admit that the virus could cause people to overeat and reduce exercise but you are using that evidence (that people don't exercise and overeat) to prove.... what? So more or less here's how I see it, I'm saying A may cause B which causes C and you are arguing, but B causes C.

[Memo]

Oh yes, poor sick fat peoeple :rolleyes:

[MikeD]

You discounted the virus factor when you said:


So help me out a bit with your logic. You admit that the virus could cause people to overeat and reduce exercise but you are using that evidence (that people don't exercise and overeat) to prove.... what? So more or less here's how I see it, I'm saying A may cause B which causes C and you are arguing, but B causes C.

Whatever IN. You know what I said, you want to spin it go ahead.

I said *most* people are fat because they overeat. You kept babbling about the virus. Could a virus potentially cause someone to gain weight? Yes. Is this a common occurence? I doubt it highly. I'd be willing to bet that a VAST MAJORITY of people who are fat are that way because of their own actions (namely, hand to mouth).

I think common sense should take precedent here, but don't let me stop you from feeling how you feel.

[InfiniteNothing]

I didn't think I put words in your mouth



Why couldn't a virus cause someone to eat too much food? it seems to work on chickens

I never said that it couldn't.

It seems like you're still arguing B causes C. I agree.


Oh yes, poor sick fat peoeple :rolleyes:
I'm sure there's a skinny virus too. Viruses aplenty for everyone ;)

[MikeD]

I didn't think I put words in your mouth

It seems like you're still arguing B causes C.

B does cause C. In some instances, instances that I'm calling rare, A can cause B. I believe I stated that numerous times...numerous times.

However, B causes C directly much more often. I don't have scientific studies to prove so, I have common sense. Again, I've reiterated that here and even offered up examples...numerous examples. Common sense states that they are accurate.

You think A ~> B ~> C. I think that A rarely ~> B, but that B ~> C on a much more frequent basis.

It's the eternal quest to find the quick fix for being fat. Take a pill, go to the doctor, blame it on a virus. How 'bout we watch what (and how much) we put in our mouth instead?

[InfiniteNothing]

Okay, I see we are more or less in agreement. To clarify I think A sometimes causes B and B almost always leads to C. But now we're turning to a new chapter. How to fix it.

I think saying, "prevent B," is a bit like saying, when operating a nuclear reactor, just keep the uranium/neutrons at the right temp and density. And while it's true, it's an oversimplification. How about for now we try and attack A-B in the lab with research and we keep doing what we've been doing and tell people to try and avoid B-> a two pronged attack.

[brainsmile]

it's called the noselfcontrol virus

[InfiniteNothing]

In the test both chickens ate the same thing. Those with the virus had more fat in the end :shrug: Given that everyone in the world is gaining weight it's hard to believe that across cultures people are losing their self control.

[clutchy]

or obesity is caused by people EATING to much, and not exercising. And why for God's sake has this "virus" just exploded all of sudden in the last 10-20 years...

virus... that's the dummest excuse for being fat i've ever heard. You don't want to be fat, go walk 30 minutes a day, don't eat fast food, don't overeat, and make sure you eat breakfast.. virus... please. people need to stop looking for reasons outside of themselves.

[molecularfire]

Ok, here is my opinion on this topic... could a virus cause a decrease in metabolism so your body doesn't burn calories as fast or you eat more, sure why not. There is minimal data to support that at best but they're right, we don't know that it doesn't happen. That said, that is a far cry from concluding that there are viruses that make you obese... at best they slightly increase your propensity to be obese. Fact still is that calories in =calories out + fat deposition. Whether there is a virus or not is just part of the general mileau of your metabolism. There are people who can eat anything they want and still look anorexic. There are those who eat healthy and diet and still are chunky and everything in between. The vast majority of the human race is somewhere in between. Just because we've discovered that a virus might influence this doesn't change anything... it just gives scientists a target to do research on (which is a good thing) and people an excuse to fail (which is not so good).

I don't know the differences about the different serotypes of adenoviruses but they are very common viruses that cause very common things like upper respiratory infections and diarrhea. If we compared adenovirus results across the board, I would be willing to bet that they cause by far more weight loss from being sick than weight gain from altering the metabolic mileau. In order for this to even work, it would have to be a virus strain that just colonized your body and not one that actually causes sicknesses that we know of.

As for the medications issue... yes there are a lot of medications that are associated with weight gain in those who take them. With the exception of a few of them (oral steroids being the main one that pops to my mind) they generally are 5-10 pound weight gain, not the 20+ kinda weight gain that makes people anywhere near obese. I can't remember the data but someone did a study where they looked at a bunch of obese people and looked at the meds. they were on, the genetic diseases they had, etc... and concluded that drugs, genetic diseases, etc... caused about 2% or so of the obesity.

Well, after a certain point, food should become unatractive to people. Once all the nutrative requirements are met and the body is carrying enough fat to see it through winter, the addition of addition calories would make a person less likely to survive. And the people who got too fat shold have died off, leaving the people who had an appropriate level of fat to reproduce.
Our ability to overeat really is a recent phenomena and I don't know if enough time has passed for evolution to have seen this yet. I mean, yes if you are extremely overweight you are more likely to die but I don't know how often a relatively small, weak omnivore would've been faced with that risk before the invention of weapons and refrigerators.

In the test both chickens ate the same thing. Those with the virus had more fat in the end Given that everyone in the world is gaining weight it's hard to believe that across cultures people are losing their self control.
Living things are not known for their self-control. If I went back in time and fed a bunch of cavemen a bunch of food they would also get fat. It's not a cultural thing. If I continually give a dog more food than he needs he will eat that and get fat. Same with a cat, a gerbil, or a pigeon. People across the world are getting more fat because across the world on average food is getting easier and easier to attain and the necessities of life is getting less and less physically demanding. Today compared to 50 years ago in the africa for example it is easier to get food and less physical exertion is required.

[welfareloser]

why do everybody got to hate on the fat people?

dismissing obesity as "you eat too much, fatty, it's that simple, now shut up," is just mean. you think anyone likes being fat? you think people just don't care if they're overweight?

yes, calories in = fat. we know that. but some people have a much harder time with it than others. i'm skinny, i'm lucky, and i'm sure as heck not smug about it. it's very easy for me to be hungry and not eat. for others, it is impossible to not eat when hungry. "need to eat" is one of the most basic of humankind's urges, and your entire brain is set up to NOT ignore that urge. is it so hard to believe that that urge might be stronger, more easily triggered, less easily turned off, in some than in others?

sure, you can say "eat less and exercise more," and call it as simple as that. but it's NOT that simple. that's like saying "all y'all could get ripped like me if you just follow my exercise program." well, if the group of people you're telling that to includes a paraplegic, you're just being an @$$ to pretend it's his own damned fault when he can't pull it off.

there are tons of factors that make people fat. of course eating crappy food and too much of it is a major factor. but rolling your eyes at other factors is just wrong.

i especially love the way that certain people jump out of their chairs and damn near have a stroke anytime someone suggests that there may be a factor in fatness that is BEYOND THE FAT PERSON'S CONTROL, oh noes!!!! well, sorry if that doesn't fit into your ideals of personal responsibility that allow you to dismiss others as inferior and weak, but it's valid science and worthy of taking into account.

disclaimer: that's the royal "you" :P not responding to anyone in particular... just the accumulated dozens of times that dozens of people i have talked to have said dismissive things about it...

[Kevster]

As for the medications issue... yes there are a lot of medications that are associated with weight gain in those who take them. With the exception of a few of them (oral steroids being the main one that pops to my mind) they generally are 5-10 pound weight gain, not the 20+ kinda weight gain that makes people anywhere near obese. I can't remember the data but someone did a study where they looked at a bunch of obese people and looked at the meds. they were on, the genetic diseases they had, etc... and concluded that drugs, genetic diseases, etc... caused about 2% or so of the obesity.


Regardng medications and weight gain, look at SSRIs:

"The five most common SSRIs currently prescribed in the United States today are as follows:

* Citalopram (Celexa®)
* Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
* Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
* Paroxetine (Paxil®)
* Sertraline (Zoloft®)

Paroxetine (Paxil®) appears to have the most significant impact on weight gain of all of the SSRIs. Studies show that patients using Paxil experience an increase in breast size as well as weight gain and increased serum prolactin. One case report linked cravings for carbohydrates with Citalopram (Celexa®) while other studies showed an average weight gain over time of 15-20 pounds with Sertraline (Zoloft), Fluoxetine (Prozac®), and Citalopram (Celexa®)."

When you look at anti-convulsants & mood stabilizers:

"

Anticonvulsants/Mood Stabilizers

These drugs were initially used only for seizure disorders. The following anticonvulsants are now prescribed frequently in the treatment of bipolar disorder and other selected forms of depression:

* Carbamazepine (Tegretol®)
* Divalproex (Depakote®)
* Gabapentin (Neurontin®)
* Lamotrigine (Lamictal®)
* Topiramate (Topamax®)

Anticonvulsants tend to cause hyperinsulinemia (elevated insulin in the blood) and increased appetite leading to weight gain. Hyperinsulinemia also results in increased testosterone, which causes a risk to women on these medications for development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (POS). Polycystic ovary syndrome can cause weight gain, male pattern baldness, increased facial hair, skin tags, acne, infertility, high blood pressure, abnormal lipid levels, and heart disease.

Seizure disorder studies showed that patients taking anticonvulsants who had either a normal or below normal body mass index had the most severe weight gain."

For conventional mood stabilizers:

"Mood stabilizers were commonly used before anticonvulsants were developed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers commonly prescribed consisted primarily of the following:

* Lithium (Cibalith-S®, Duralith®,
* Ekalith®, Eskalith CR®, Lithane®,
* Lithobid®, Lithonate®, Lithotabs®)

Typically, one-third to two-thirds of the patients treated with Lithium gain weight. Of those, 25 percent gain enough weight to be classified as obese. Weight gain is dose dependent, but low doses of lithium (less than .8 mm/L) are often not therapeutic: therefore, low-dose lithium is usually not an alternative."

Don't just white-wash the effects of medications - there is a large amount of evidence pointing to it and they're still in the process of investigating why it happens.

Edit: If you still don't believe me, try googling Zyprexa - it is a very effective antipsychotic medication, but it also happens to have one of the worst weight-gain side effects

[Houdini]

Most antipsychotics cause weight gain, and the worst offender is probably Zyprexa. Risperidal and Seroquel aren't so great either, in that regard. The benefits, for most, outweigh the risk of weight gain/diabetes TREMENDOUSLY. Zyprexa, for instance, works damn well for schizophrenics as well as an adjunct in bipolar disorder. There are a few older antipsychotics that actually cause people to lose weight.

As far as anticonvulsants, it's true that many are linked to weight gain. Topimax, for instance, is actually linked to weight loss. Again, it depends on the patient's needs, not necessarily the risk of weight gain.

While the SSRIs can cause weight gain, it is much less of an issue than previous antidepressants (TCAs, like elavil, etc.) With TCAs you nearly always have weight gain. With SSRIs, it's not that clear cut. Prozac, for instance, causes lots of people to LOSE weight.

It must also be remembered that many of the meds you suggest cause weight gain may only do so secondarily to remission of the person's illness. If a bipolar manic person doesn't have time to eat, or a depressed person doesn't want to eat, both will probably eat more and gain weight when given a mood stabilizer.

Many other meds, such as MF suggested steroids (prednisone, etc., not anabolic ones used by athletes), will cause weight gain over time.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were a virus involved for some. Viruses have been found as culprits in MANY types of cancer and other conditions. But for the vast majority, the American sit-on-your-ass lifestyle coupled with large portions, and fast food has the greatest effect. Some are genetically predisposed to getting fat, but many of them don't, as they lead healthy lifestyles. Society always wants to find a magic bullet to blame for fat people, etc., such as a virus, or a medication side-effect, but that's the minority of cases.

[Memo]

why do everybody got to hate on the fat people?Because they're seen as unattractive, unhealthy, lazy gluttons with little self control.



dismissing obesity as "you eat too much, fatty, it's that simple, now shut up," is just mean. you think anyone likes being fat? you think people just don't care if they're overweight?
I think a lot of people don't care. And if they do care they don't care enough to do anything about it. There are far too many things that people care about but don't act on. Just caring isn't enough.


yes, calories in = fat. we know that. but some people have a much harder time with it than others. i'm skinny, i'm lucky, and i'm sure as heck not smug about it. it's very easy for me to be hungry and not eat. for others, it is impossible to not eat when hungry. "need to eat" is one of the most basic of humankind's urges, and your entire brain is set up to NOT ignore that urge. is it so hard to believe that that urge might be stronger, more easily triggered, less easily turned off, in some than in others?
Saying it is "impossible" is not true. It is most certainly possible. And sure, "need to eat" is a basic human urge but so is "need to ****." So are rapists let off in society? No. We're not cavemen. Society demands a certain level of self control. These things come down to a matter of discipline. It takes some time for certain people to discipline themselve but I think through determination and hardwork anyone could achieve a change in lifestyle when it come to somethign as simple as eating, no matter how strong the urge is. If you don't like the "need to ****" example, take "need to piss or ****." Sometimes the urge is stronger but we're all disciplined (I hope) to wait until we find a toilet.



sure, you can say "eat less and exercise more," and call it as simple as that. but it's NOT that simple. that's like saying "all y'all could get ripped like me if you just follow my exercise program." well, if the group of people you're telling that to includes a paraplegic, you're just being an @$$ to pretend it's his own damned fault when he can't pull it off.

there are tons of factors that make people fat. of course eating crappy food and too much of it is a major factor. but rolling your eyes at other factors is just wrong.

i especially love the way that certain people jump out of their chairs and damn near have a stroke anytime someone suggests that there may be a factor in fatness that is BEYOND THE FAT PERSON'S CONTROL, oh noes!!!! well, sorry if that doesn't fit into your ideals of personal responsibility that allow you to dismiss others as inferior and weak, but it's valid science and worthy of taking into account.

There is no doubt in most peoples minds that there are other factors when it comes to weight. Everyone knows someone who can eat a **** ton of food and no gain any weight while there are some people who struggle to lose weight despite having tried a million diets. However, a genetic disposition to losing weight doesn't mean people can just give up and eat McDs everyday and not exercise. I never hate on fat people who actually make an honest attempt at exercising or eating healthy. I don't think it is EVER out of someone's control though. You may have less control than others but you can still diet and exercise. If that doesn't work, gastric bypass!

[InfiniteNothing]

I think we've moved on to philosophy. Here's my contribution.



If the human brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't.


Can you tell a person with turetts syndrome not to yell things? Can you tell an obsesive compulsive to stop doing their thing? It's hard to know exactly what other people can and can't control without first walking in their shoes.

PS: not all fat people are fat enough to qualify for gastric bypass.

[theorangeone]

Because they're seen as unattractive, unhealthy, lazy gluttons with little self control.
*snip*
There is no doubt in most peoples minds that there are other factors when it comes to weight. Everyone knows someone who can eat a **** ton of food and no gain any weight while there are some people who struggle to lose weight despite having tried a million diets. However, a genetic disposition to losing weight doesn't mean people can just give up and eat McDs everyday and not exercise. I never hate on fat people who actually make an honest attempt at exercising or eating healthy. I don't think it is EVER out of someone's control though. You may have less control than others but you can still diet and exercise. If that doesn't work, gastric bypass!

That's the thing. Whether or not there are outside factors, most people look at overweight people as unattractive, unhealthy and lazy. Never mind the fact that even being fat, I could run faster/walk farther than most of my "skinny" friends in college. I eat healthy 95% of the time, and before I had surgery on my foot, I exercised regularly. I've been at the same weight for 7 years. I haven't exercised since October (due to surgery), and I haven't gained any weight.

I have PCOS and hyperinsulinemia. The one time I went on medication for the hyperinsulinemia, I dropped a fair amount of weight but the side effects of the drug were horrible. For me, the weight I dropped wasn't worth the issues.

I know it's not the norm, and that a lot of overweight people do eat too much/not the right foods/don't exercise.

Gastric bypass isn't for everyone. In fact, even though I'm fat, I'm not fat enough for the surgery, or the less invasive lap band surgery.

I'm sick of holier than "skinny" people making comments as I walk by or shooting me dirty looks because I don't match what they see as ideal. I'm sick of people who try to tell me that I'm not in good shape or healthy, because I normally am. I'm ok with my weight, and happy with who I am. Please don't take it out on me if you're not.

[cheapie]

is it called the "cheeto" virus?

[MikeD]

I know it's not the norm, and that a lot of overweight people do eat too much/not the right foods/don't exercise.

I'm ok with my weight, and happy with who I am.

Those two points pretty much sum it up. Confidence in yourself is really the most important thing, when you get down to it.

[riskykougra]

There are also alot of ppl with medical conditions who cant exercise. Im fairly young...35...and overweight. For the last 3 years I have been in extreme pain and after working 8 hours a day was pretty much only able to come home and lay on the couch suffering. This of course caused me to weigh more than I did when expecting any of my children. Turns out I have severe rheumatiod arthritis and fibromyalgia which took a long time to diagnose because they thought I was too young. It seems all the pains Ive had most of my life are because I have had this and never been treated. So it isnt all due to Mcd's everyday. Turns out the best way to ease the pain is to exercise so for the past 4 months I have been going to the gym 5 days a week. It was extremely painful at first and without my sis...Sweetpear... there to incourage me I probably would of given up. So when ppl say "fat ppl" are all just lazy please try to remember that atleast some of them do have real medical reasons that maybe have gone undiagnosed for a long time. But Im happy to say I am well on the way to good health. Pain is much better and I have lost 20 pds by eating healthy and exercise...fad diets DO NOT WORK, so dont waste your time.

[Houdini]

I just wanted to put in a plug validating those who have true medical reasons to be overweight. Rheum arthritis and PCOS have been mentioned for instance. Meds may do it. DEPRESSION and other psychiatric disorders ARE medical illnesses, should be treated as such, and often contribute to weight loss/gain as much or more than the other mediccal conditions noted.

Still, the role of the "virus" is very, very vague. The US lifestyle probably contributes the most to most cases of obesity. It's even worse here in NOLA where the food is great, even for poor people, and they (we) tend to gain weight. I'm in better shape now than I used to be, but I'm still not as trim as I was before moving here. Then again, that was 10 years or so ago.

Off topic, I had a dream about nickel last night. Funny, as I've never met her or seen a pic of her. But I dreamed about her nonetheless. Funny how that works. :)