Intestinal bacteria: another cause of obesity?

In the past 30 years, the number of obese children and adults in the U.S. has literally exploded. As scientists search for an answer to the problem, they are discovering that obesity is not a simple issue, but a complex, multi-factorial disease with a variety of causes. Some causes are obvious, such as too much food and too little exercise, but there are several other less well-known theories. In recent years, the idea that microbes might cause obesity has gained a foothold. Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar, head of the nation’s first department of viruses and obesity, invented the term “infectobesity” to describe the emerging field. His particular interest is in the relationship between obesity and adenoviruses, which cause respiratory tract congestion and some of the “common” colds. Other scientists have been studying the role of microbes in the gut as possible causes of obesity—a theory given more credence by a new report published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Share and Enjoy: