2006年VOA标准英语-Researchers Say a Type of Virus May Contri

By Pat¹ Harris
Washington
12 April 2006
 
Watch Fat Virus report
 
  
  
Obesity² is a growing problem around the world. In the United States, for example, almost one-third of the adult population is overweight.

Now studies at the University of Wisconsin indicate some obesity may be linked to a form of virus. VOA's Jim Bertel has more in this report produced by Pat Harris .

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In many cases, people become overweight because they take in more calories than they burn up. The extra pounds they accumulate³ can be bad for their health. Now new research shows weight gain may also be the result of a type of virus.  They are called adenoviruses, and they cause infections.

People may get a cold or flu, recover, and then start to gain weight.

Dr. Leah Whigman  
  
Dr. Leah Whigman, a Nutritional⁴ Scientist at the University of Wisconsin says, "There's more than 50 adenoviruses.  We've studied just a handful⁵ of those as far as their ability to cause obesity or increased fat in different animals."

When results indicated the AD36 virus causes obesity in animals and is associated with obesity in humans, Dr. Whigman and her colleagues tested related⁶ viruses on several groups of chickens.

"The chickens infected with the AD37 virus had three times more visceral fat and about twice as much total body fat," she said.

 
Frank⁷ Greenway
  
Endocrinologist Frank Greenway of the Louisiana State University says some people do appear to get larger after suffering from a virus.

"When I first heard that obesity might be caused by a virus, I was quite surprised," he said. "Now, I don't think that viruses are causing the whole problem, but they may well be part of it."

Researchers say viruses may not be the main reason why people gain weight, but it seems to be a factor.  It's another reason to try to avoid colds and flu!

1 pat   

n.轻拍，拍打声；vt.轻拍，拍打；vi.轻跑，轻击；adv.适时，彻底；adj.油腔滑调的，恰好的，合适的

参考例句：

• Could you hear the pat?你能听到轻轻的拍击声吗？
• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。

2 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

3 accumulate   

vt.堆积，积累，积聚；vi.累积，聚积

参考例句：

• We let the mending accumulate until Wednesday.我们让需缝补的衣服一直积存到星期三。
• We should try various channels to raise and accumulate social security funds.多渠道筹集和积累社会保障基金。

4 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

5 handful   

n.一把；少量，少数，一小撮

参考例句：

• We invited 30 people, but only a handful came.我们邀请了30人，但是只到了几个人。
• He pulled out a handful of coins from his pocket.他从口袋里掏出一把硬币。

6 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

7 frank   

adj.坦白的，直率的，真诚的

参考例句：

• A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
• She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。