According to researchers at John Hopkins, the virus inhibits a protein found in the dorsomedial hypothalamus area of the brain which is linked to appetite and hunger.

In early experiments when rats were given the virus they ate the same amount and yet built up brown fat as apposed to white fat, which apparently is much easier for our bodies to burn off.

I know some people would jump at the chance to lose weight regardless of the repercussions, but a system that involves "infecting" patients just seems so wrong! There's also the fact that the rodent test subjects were still eating unhealthy foods, which must have an impact on other part of their bodies, even if they're slimmer than their non-infected counterparts.

Via io9. Image via Hljod Huskona's Flickr.