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        Obesity is one of the most chronic health care problems affecting the world in recent years with its rate rising steadily. According to Miltra and Clarke (2009) obesity has increased to 25-29% prevalence compared to 14% that was measured in 1985. This epidemic has been the indirect cause of death of many individuals due to its prevalent role in the development of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems and stroke. Obesity is determined by an individual's Body Mass Index (BMI) being over 30, 13 points over the normal BMI. BMI evaluates a persons weight in correlation to their

height.

Obesity Epidemic

     Data from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), reveals more than one-third of adults in America are obese. Another article,  written by Dr. Ramos Kelly (2013) stated that by 2020, if obesity rates remain prevalent, 83% of men and 72% of women will be obese. Children who are failed to be treated for obesity is expected to have their life expectancy decrease by about 20 years ( Gabbert, Donohue, Arnold & Schwimmer, 2010).

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            The etiology of obesity however, is unknown. Although there are many factorials that play a role in the development of obesity, there has been research on the hypothesis of viral infection being the leading cause of obesity (Miltra & Clarke, 2009).  Dhurandhar (2001) introduced the world to the theory of virulence strained obesity, coining the term infectobesity, obesity caused by infectious origin. As Dhurandhar stated, there are about five Obesogenic animal viruses. Borna Disease Virus, Rous-Associated Virus-7, SWAM-1 Avian Adenovirus and human Adenovirus (Ad-36).

How is Adenovirus spread?

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Adenoviruses are highly contagious viruses that can be easily transmitted through a cough or sneeze. They are responsible for about 10% of respiratory infections in children. Many studies suggests that by the age of 10, most persons have been infected with at least one type of Adenovirus (Adenovirus, n.d).

Human Adenovirus

          Ad-36, a double stranded DNA virus that maintains an icosahedral structure was discovered in the adenoid glands of humans and is one of many known adenovirus to be a causative factor of many diseases, including upper respiratory tract infection, enteritis, and conjunctivitis in humans (Dhurandhar, 2001; Wang, Yu, Zang...,2010).

             In recent studies of Ad-36 virus using chickens, mice and primates as experimental animals, research have discovered that Ad-36 had the ability to trigger lipid accretion, replication and insulin sensitivity in the fat cell of these animals.

     When tested in a human sample of non-obese and obese individuals, Ad-36 contributed to the rise in body-mass index. Its presence in individials that were obese was 30% compared to 5% in non-obese persons (Wang, Yu, Zang...Cefalu, 2010).

      Scientist from Louisiana State university (2007) tested the theory of Ad-36 and Obesity by taking the Ad-36 virus and bringing them in contact with stem cells taken from individuals who had liposuction. Half of the cells were exposed while the other half was used as a control. The experiment resulted in the Ad-36 infect stem cells turning into fat call, while the non-infected cells remained the same (As cited in Weil, n.d).

     Another independent study tested the prevalence of Ad-36 and obesity in children and found that children with obesity, not only was more likely to tested positive for Ad-36 antibodies, but the amount the Ad-36 antibodies found in these children affected the severity of obesity (Gabbert et al., 2010).