http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-3362v1
http://www.NaturalNews.com/029815_obesity_contagious.html
A study published by the Pediatrics journal suggests that it is possible to catch obesity, as if it's a virus. The adenovirus 36 is the said "culprit" of childhood obesity. The website NaturalNews.com then recapped this study ridiculing it.
The study's purpose was to examine the correlation between antibodies (AD36,) found in kids and the obesity of those children. It was found that 15% of children had these antibodies, and the majority of these children were obese (78%.) Researchers responsible for this study believe that if they can find a relationship that is cause-and-effect for these factors, then they can find a way to neutralize the antibody and reduce growing obesity in kids, so it's not so easily "caught." NaturalNews disagreed with the study and said the growing rate of obesity in children is clearly being caused by poor diet and lack of exercise.
This study is very interesting; the idea that a child can "catch" obesity ties into the idea that obesity is a disease. The amount of media attention on childhood obesity already has many parents concerned for their the health of their children. Promoting the idea that obesity is something that can be "caught" only a fuels more panic among parents. If this said adenovirus 36 actually is the "culprit" of obesity, the result could be similar to the reaction to the H1N1 virus. Would there suddenly be a vaccine to prevent your child from becoming obese? And would parents actually pay for their children to have it?