5 ms·

I know that posting the original title is usually recommended, but shouldn't it be proper etiquette to remove sensationalism and click-baity messages on HN? "T

• fragsworth 10y ago
  No. One virus made chickens subjected to the virus gain weight when compared to the control group, even though they were fed the same amount. That virus actually very directly causes obesity, and the claim is that there are similar viruses in humans, which we've found correlational data for, but we can't ethically test for it.
  • ht85 10y ago
    Technically, the virus directly causes overeating, not obesity, the title makes it sound like this virus could make you gain more weight for a different reason. "Cause Obesity" sounds like it is the entire reason behind all of obesity, not just one of the multiple factors.
    • overgard 10y ago
      The article specifically mentions the guy lost minimal weight even during medical interventions when his diet was restricted. He wasnt overeating during those periods.
      • heisenbit 10y ago
        The article was a bit confusing on the relationship between food, blood work and other health aspects. Diabetes later in life - lack of insulin does not necessarily lead to weight gain - insulin is encouraging cells to store energy after all. Low triglycerides may be result of low fructose diet. As the weight gain effect can be reproduced in animals I wonder whether there is more animal blood and cell data that could provide clues on the underlying mechanism. I can't imaging they only used a scale to measure the outcome but then the proof is in the pudding.
        • overgard 10y ago
          Well, I don't think implying diabetes (type 2) is a lack of insulin is entirely accurate. The problem is insulin resistance in cells, because they're saturated with insulin, where they mostly stop responding to insulin. Which then results in the pancreas not being able to produce enough insulin to lower blood glucose. It's like a deaf person saying the music isn't loud enough -- the volume is fine, their ears are just shot. You can make the music louder (inject insulin), but their ears will just get worse. When you have that much insulin in your system though, you're definitely not losing weight -- because the cells are saturated with insulin they're definitely not in fat burning mode.
  • IanCal 10y ago
    But you clearly cannot eat at a deficit and gain weight. A virus cannot directly make you gain mass.
    • whiddershins 10y ago
      The energy can be used in a variety of ways. So yes, of course the same exact caloric intake can have different effects, depending on what exactly your body does with the energy.
    • aperrien 10y ago
      No, but a virus could change your appetite, your body's allocation of energy from lean mass to fat mass, or alter your overall metabolism. Or any combination of those.
    • jdminhbg 10y ago
      > But you clearly cannot eat at a deficit and gain weight. This is just question-begging. The proposed mechanism is that the virus alters what a deficit is.
      • IanCal 10y ago
        And I think that's a very distinctly different thing from "directly causes obesity".
        • Dylan16807 10y ago
          When people say "directly causes obesity", they don't mean it's a magic spell that reverses thermodynamics. Something that stops a large amount of calories from being burned and turns them into fat reserves deserves the title of "directly causes obesity".
          • srssays 10y ago
            So why aren't people in hot countries all obese?
• dang 10y ago
  You're on the right track. The guidelines do ask to keep the original title—except when it is misleading or linkbait, in which case they ask you not to keep the original title. This one should clearly be changed. What to change it to is not as clear. We've given it a shot.
• overgard 10y ago
  Frankly that title would be worse -- you're directly editorializing with the "could interfere with hunger." You don't know that this guy's problem was overeating, you're just assuming.