Better understanding of signals to burn energy may eventually lead to treatments for obesity. Sad but true, we don’t all respond equally to exercise. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have uncovered a new kind of clue to this variable response — a hormone whose levels in the bloodstream rise sharply in exercise as well as … Read more
Gene therapies have been a point of discussion during the last several years as a potential curative option for a variety of disease indications. The majority of the cardiovascular and metabolic disorder (CVMD) gene therapies in development are targeting cardiovascular indications, indicating immense opportunity for biotech companies to pursue drug candidates that target metabolic disorders, … Read more
The human body has two primary kinds of fat — white fat, which stores excess calories and is associated with obesity, and brown fat, which burns calories in order to produce heat and has garnered interest as a potential means of combating obesity. Now, a study led by Brown University researchers has identified an enzyme … Read more
The study shows that the elimination of this protein from obese mice blocks any further increase in obesity and reduces body weight Scientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) have identified a protein that holds promise as a target for therapies to reduce obesity. Drs. Guadalupe Sabio and Nuria Matesanz have … Read more
New discoveries about the mechanism responsible for heat generation in the body related to fat tissue oppose classical views in the field and could lead to new ways to fight metabolic disorders associated with obesity, according to a study led by Georgia State University. More than one-third of adults in the United States are obese, … Read more
Microneedle skin patch that delivers fat-shrinking drug locally could be used to treat obesity and diabetes Researchers have devised a medicated skin patch that can turn energy-storing white fat into energy-burning brown fat locally while raising the body’s overall metabolism. The patch could be used to burn off pockets of unwanted fat such as “love … Read more
Scientists at Monash University’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute have found a mechanism by which the brain coordinates feeding with energy expenditure, solving a puzzle that has previously eluded researchers and offering a potential novel target for the treatment of obesity. Obesity — a major risk factor for many diseases including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, liver … Read more
Animal study discovers new molecular player in burning sugar and fat to boost metabolism As we bask in the summer heat, it is easy to take for granted that humans are also prepared for the cold of winter, with overcoats in the closet and home heating systems ready to be fired up as an added … Read more
Fat-like molecules induced by cold help to turn-on calorie-burning fat and improve metabolism Activated by cold, the small amounts of brown fat scattered around your body can burn calories to warm you up. They also can help to lower insulin resistance and other conditions implicated in type 2 diabetes and obesity. Since the discovery in … Read more
A study of 3,000 PET-scans yields new data on the proportion of brown fat Compared to white fat, brown body fat burns through energy at an extraordinary rate. However, until now the proportion of brown fat in humans was thought to be quite small. Now a study conducted by researchers at the Technical University of … Read more