News Health & Medicine

Obesity in children linked to common cold virus

Adenovirus-36 may be making kids heavier, new study suggests

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Childhood obesity is not only an epidemic, it may be an infectious disease transmitted by a common cold virus, a new study suggests.

OBESITY GERM? A virus that causes the common cold may also be linked to childhood obesity. New research finds that kids exposed to adenovirus-36 (shown in illustration) averaged 50 pounds heavier.