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 September 20, 2010 at 12:39 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print 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.