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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.

• 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.