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Fat Injections Could Aid Weight Loss

Brown fat may speed metabolism

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2009 4:33 AM CST

(Newser) – The discovery that adults retain small quantities of “brown fat”—which in infants burns calories to generate heat—has scientists exploring the possibility of using the substance as a weight-loss aid. Brown fat is exceedingly effective at burning sugar, so researchers theorize that boosted amounts of the substance may increase a person’s metabolism so greatly that a 50 gram injection may help someone lose 10 pounds.

Studies have shown that healthier people have more brown fat, but haven’t been able to determine whether the stuff is a symptom of better health, or a cause. In tests on mice, injections of brown fat burned off incoming calories as the animals ate. But brown fat’s ability to trigger decreases of white fat—the normal kind—in obese mice hasn’t been proven, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Brown fat could help you metabolize this. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

A worker holds a white lab rat. (Getty Images)

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Lagerfeld Sorry About Those Fat Comments

Fashion designer apologizes to Adele, says he's her biggest fan

To Curb Obesity, Give Babies Finger Food

Don't feed them pureed meals: study

Army Wants to Fight Obesity—With Fat Injections

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We're not all Gisele Bundchen, says a Copacabana mom

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

obesity • fat • women's issues • brown fat

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Lagerfeld Sorry About Those Fat Comments

Fashion designer apologizes to Adele, says he's her biggest fan

To Curb Obesity, Give Babies Finger Food

Don't feed them pureed meals: study

Army Wants to Fight Obesity—With Fat Injections

New research award asks companies for a way to generate 'good' brown fat

Bikinis Balloon for Expanding Girls From Ipanema

We're not all Gisele Bundchen, says a Copacabana mom

Stay Warm in Winter? Might Be Your Brown Fat

Discovery could help in fight against obesity

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?