A reduction in visceral fat is associated with better cardiometabolic health and lower future type 2 diabetes risk, even when body weight is fully regained. Visceral fat loss achieves a significant protective effect against systemic aging and metabolic decay long after a diet ends.
A review from Florida Atlantic University links obesity to Alzheimer's disease through disruptions in metabolism, highlighting the importance of mitochondrial function and gut-brain axis balance. Early detection and whole-body prevention may become possible through monitoring metabolic health.
A long-term MRI study finds that lower accumulation of visceral fat is associated with preservation of key brain structures, better cognitive performance, and slower brain atrophy. The study suggests that glucose control and insulin sensitivity mediate the relationship between abdominal fat and brain aging.
Researchers have identified a key protein that activates brown fat by expanding blood vessels and nerves, which can regulate body temperature and is linked to weight loss. The findings suggest a new approach to treating obesity that deviates from suppressing appetite.
Both bariatric surgery and semaglutide treatment were associated with significant fat mass loss, moderate fat-free mass loss, and an improved FFM to fat mass ratio. These findings support interventions aimed at preserving muscle mass while promoting weight loss.
Researchers developed a probe to visualize lipid breakdown in living cells, revealing differences in breakdown rates among individual droplets. The study found that an enzyme called ATGL drives these variations, which may contribute to abnormal lipid metabolism in liver cancer cells.
Researchers have discovered that HSL plays an unexpected role in the nucleus of fat cells, helping maintain healthy adipose tissue. This new understanding challenges 60 years of certainty about fat metabolism and offers avenues for better understanding metabolic diseases such as obesity.
A new study from UC San Francisco found that saturated fat affects the behavior of a protein called PER2, which orchestrates fat metabolism and circadian rhythms. Mice eating a diet high in hydrogenated fats struggled to adapt to winter, whereas those on unsaturated fat diets adjusted easily.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover a new microprotein, SLC35A4-MP, that regulates mitochondrial structure and function in brown fat tissue. The study reveals the microprotein's role in maintaining healthy cellular metabolism and regulating body temperature.
A cross-sectional study found that greater lean mass and fitness are associated with fewer anxiety and depression symptoms in preadolescent children. Higher visceral adipose tissue, on the other hand, is linked to increased symptoms of both anxiety and depression.
A new study found that excessive visceral fat is linked to faster ageing of the heart, with a genetic predisposition to female-type fat in women potentially slowing heart ageing. Researchers also discovered that artificial intelligence analysis of images revealed signs of organ ageing, including tissue stiffness and inflammation.
Researchers have discovered a way for caterpillars to metabolically degrade plastics in a matter of days, storing it as body fat. However, this process comes at a cost, ultimately leading to the caterpillar's death.
A recent study published in Nature Metabolism found that electrical activity in synapses can lead to the use of lipid droplets as an energy source in the brain. Researchers discovered that neurons can break down fat into fatty acids and produce ATP, even when glucose is not present.
Researchers from Rutgers University have identified complementary brain circuits that control hunger and satiety. The studies suggest refining current weight-loss drugs and developing new therapies targeting specific pathways.
Creatine has broad health benefits beyond athletic performance, including maintaining energy in stressed cells and preventing muscle loss with aging. Studies have shown no significant side effects from creatine supplementation, contradicting common misconceptions.
Researchers identified biomarkers like uric acid and bile acids as critical regulators of arterial stiffness and inflammation in adolescents with obesity. These findings provide new avenues for early intervention to prevent the progression of vascular stiffness and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers identify interleukin-17A as a key regulator of fat storage, carrying implications for addressing obesity and preventing wasting. The discovery highlights the interaction between the immune system and circadian rhythms, which may hold therapeutic potential for metabolic disorders.
Scripps Research scientists discovered a molecule produced by roundworm intestines that signals the brain to slow fat loss when food is not available. The discovery sheds light on why fasting has benefits independent of calorie intake and may lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes.
Researchers found that switching fruit flies to a low-calorie diet extends their lifespan, even in old age. This study suggests that obese humans may benefit from reducing calorie intake in old age, as it can dramatically change their metabolisms and extend their lives.
A study by researchers from Osaka University found that HSP47, a collagen-specific molecular chaperone, is significantly expressed in fat tissue and correlates with body fat levels. High or low HSP47 expression was linked to high or low body fat levels in both humans and mice.
A recent simulation study suggests that giant dinosaur carcasses could have been a key food source for Jurassic predators like Allosaurus. The researchers found that scavenging large carrion was more profitable than hunting, indicating that carnivores in such ecosystems might have evolved specialized traits to exploit these resources.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 1, 2023
A new study led by Richard Johnson, MD, suggests that fructose is the key driver of obesity, bringing together long-incompatible theories on dietary causes. Fructose lowers active energy in the body, triggering hunger and food intake, and fatty foods become the major source of calories driving weight gain.
Scientists have found that cells break down and reassemble fatty acids to create more beneficial variants, such as oleic acid. This process, called triglyceride cycling, refines poorly usable fatty acids into higher-quality forms.
Scientists have discovered that wrinkles in the cellular nucleus may be involved in common metabolic diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver disease. The new findings suggest that targeting these wrinkles could lead to novel treatments for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects 40% of people over age 70.
Researchers developed a new method to target and treat visceral adiposity using positively charged P-G3 nanomaterials, which inhibit unhealthy lipid storage in enlarged fat cells. This approach also rejuvenates healthy fat cells, promoting metabolically healthy fat cell formation.
Researchers have solved the structure of seipin, a protein essential for proper fat storage in humans. The study reveals two conformations of seipin, which create and grow lipid droplets used for energy storage.
Researchers at UNIGE found that fat can aid pancreatic beta cells in adapting to excess sugar levels. The study reveals a dynamic cycle of fat storage and mobilization allows cells to maintain near-normal insulin secretion. Regular physical activity may help give this beneficial cycle a chance to be active.
Researchers discovered that blood stem cells use high-energy fatty acids from the body's fat stores to power up their response to infection. This finding could lead to new approaches in treating bacterial infections, particularly in vulnerable and older individuals.
Researchers at University of California - Riverside are studying the keto and intermittent fasting diets on a molecular level, finding that women may metabolize fat differently than men. The study aims to understand why keto diet may not be effective for women and how it affects their overall health.
A controlled trial found that consuming an avocado daily for 12 weeks reduced visceral abdominal fat and the ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat in female participants. The benefits were primarily seen in females, with no impact on glucose tolerance or male participants.
The liver metabolizes coconut oil with medium-chain fatty acids, which are processed by DGAT1 enzyme, whereas long-chain fatty acids are processed by DGAT2. This knowledge could help treat certain diarrheal diseases by adjusting diet.
Researchers found that specific odors can dynamically regulate fat mobilization by interacting with olfactory neurons, promoting the loss or gain of fat storage. This discovery may help understand why some people are more resistant to metabolic problems while others are more vulnerable.
A new study found that polyunsaturated fat caused epigenetic changes in participants' fat tissue, leading to differences in fat storage. The results suggest that polyunsaturated fat may have a more positive impact on health compared to saturated fat.
Research reveals that estrogen deficiency after menopause leads to increased fat storage in the abdomen, associated with a higher risk of health issues. Post-menopausal women experience changes in cellular processes, leading to more fat being stored overall, which can be a target for future medical advances.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified TRIP-Br2 as a major regulator of energy metabolism and fat storage. In mice fed high-fat diets, TRIP-Br2 levels were elevated in visceral fat, leading to increased fat accumulation and decreased energy expenditure.
A new study at the University of Rochester has discovered that lipid droplets store histones, making them available for chromosome assembly. The findings suggest that binding to lipid droplets protects histones from being toxic to cells. This research challenges existing theories on histone balance and its mechanism.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have identified CCT enzyme as a key regulator in fat storage. The research suggests new directions for treating excess fat storage and obesity. By understanding how the body stores fat safely, researchers can explore new treatments for conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that ghrelin enhances odor detection and exploratory sniffing in both rats and human subjects. The study suggests a link between ghrelin and the natural regulation of metabolism and body weight.
Scientists have discovered 20 new hormones and substances secreted by human fat cells, including six new proteins and dozens of previously known hormones. This finding could lead to a better understanding of the role of hormone-secreting fat cells in heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases.
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered that insulin processing, rather than genetic factors, plays a crucial role in determining how cells store fat. The study used single-cell profiling techniques to examine the relationship between insulin signaling and fat storage in genetically identical cells.
Research by UNSW reveals oestrogen reduces energy burning after eating, resulting in more stored fat around the body. Oestrogen's role in regulating body fat has implications for dietary advice and exercise regimes during pregnancy.
Researchers identify COPI complex as a regulator of lipid homeostasis, finding it reduces PAT protein expression at the lipid droplet surface. This study reveals COPI's role in energy storage and shedding, with implications for treating obesity and metabolic disorders.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have identified genes responsible for fat storage in cells, which may lead to new understanding and potential treatments for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The study found that ~1.5% of all genes function in lipid-droplet formation and regulation.
Researchers at UCI found that fat droplets serve as storage depots for excess proteins, regulating their presence in the cell. The study suggests that these droplets could help fight diseases caused by excessive protein production, such as prion diseases.
A study by Daniel A. Hahn found that worker ants in desert carpenter ant colonies store more fat per unit lean mass than lighter ants, leading to a greater proportion of soldiers being stored. This difference in individual-level storage tactics contributes to between-species differences in behavioral development and motivation.
Researchers discovered that LXRs regulate SREBP-1c, a key protein in fat metabolism, allowing animals to store fat when fed high-fat diets with cholesterol. The study also found that LXR's role is crucial in the biochemical pathway that regulates fat storage, suggesting a new target for obesity and heart disease treatments.
A novel cardiac glycogen storage disease has been identified through research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The study sheds new light on the genetic causes and consequences of this rare condition, offering potential avenues for improved diagnosis and therapy.