Microbes and obesity

This Sunday’s New York Times spends 6591 words spread out over 72 paragraphs discussing the theory that obesity is related to intestinal microorganisms.

It’s an entertaining story. The results of animal studies suggest that people infected with an adenovirus, Ad-36, have a better than even chance of becoming obese.

I know what you’re thinking, but don’t hold your breath.

Yes, some day, in the future, in a galaxy far, far away, it might be possible to administer antiviral drugs to “infected” individuals early enough to block the effect of Ad-36 on the fat cells.

But by paragraph 67 we learn what we knew all the time, there is no substitute for diet and exercise.

8/13/06 9:22 JR