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Adenoviruses and Obesity

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Controversies in Obesity

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Abstract

The etiology of obesity is generally attributed to a lack of willpower on the part of obese people plus a contribution from epigenetic and genetic factors. This chapter postulates that a major portion of the worldwide epidemic of obesity since 1980 is due to infection with human adenovirus 36 (Adv36). Adv36 causes obesity in multiple animal species and is strongly associated with obesity in humans. The prevalence of Adv36 infection averages about 30 % in obese adults and children and about 18 % in nonobese individuals. Adv36 infection correlates with body weight or body fat, especially in children. The mechanisms of Adv36-induced obesity are alteration of multiple molecular and biochemical pathways by the E4orf1 gene of Adv36. The main alterations are an increase of glucose transport into cells and increased production of fatty acids from the glucose under the influence of fatty acid synthase. An infectious cause of obesity demands changes in governmental and insurance company policies that heretofore have not considered obesity a disease. The production of a vaccine against Adv36 holds promise to lower the prevalence of obesity and result in improved health and large economic savings across the world.

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Conflict of Interest

The author is the owner of Obetech, LLC. This small business provides assays for adenoviruses that produce obesity and has multiple patents in the area of virus-induced obesity, diagnostic assays, and vaccines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Obetech Obesity Research Center, Obetech, LLC, 800 East Leigh St., Richmond, VA, 23111, USA

    Richard L. Atkinson MD

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  1. Richard L. Atkinson MD
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Correspondence to Richard L. Atkinson MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Watton Place Clinic, Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

    David W. Haslam

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Arya M. Sharma

  3. Department of Pathology, Diabetes Complications Research Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Carel W. le Roux

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Atkinson, R.L. (2014). Adenoviruses and Obesity. In: Haslam, D., Sharma, A., le Roux, C. (eds) Controversies in Obesity. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2834-2_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2834-2_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-2834-2

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