A common virus from the group that often causes the common cold may also help to make some people obese, according to new research.

Scientists in the US have discovered that an adenovirus, known as Ad36, can transform adult stem cells in fat tissue into fully fledged fat cells.

Obese people are also much more likely to carry the virus than lean individuals, providing further evidence that it is a risk factor for putting on excess weight.

Though the findings do not reduce the centrality of diet and exercise to obesity, they do suggest that infections can also contribute to the accumulation of excess fat. This raises the prospect that antiviral drugs that kill this adenovirus could be a useful addition to weight loss programmes,.

“We’re not saying that a virus is the only cause of obesity, but this study provides stronger evidence that some obesity cases may involve viral infections,” said Magdalena Pasarica, of Louisiana State University, who led the study, which was presented to the American Chemical Society conference in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Not all infected people will develop obesity. We would ultimately like to identify the underlying factors that predispose some obese people to develop this virus and eventually find a way to treat it.”

In a separate study a team led by Deborah Clegg, of the University of Cincinnati, has shown how the female hormone oestrogen can act on the brain to influence eating patterns and obesity. The findings support a link between oestrogen and suppression of obesity, which may explain why many women struggle to keep their weight down after the menopause.

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