New Approach to Combat Obesity by Activating Brown Fat Cells

Recent research suggests a promising new method for tackling obesity that does not rely solely on reducing food intake. A study led by scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) highlights the potential of activating brown adipose tissue (brown fat) to increase energy expenditure. Published in Nature Communications, the study focuses on a protein called neuritin 1, which is produced in the nervous system and brown fat. Unlike existing anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic or tirzepatide that suppress appetite, neuritin 1 enhances the body's ability to burn energy directly.

The researchers found that boosting levels of neuritin 1 specifically in brown fat cells significantly increased energy expenditure in animal models, leading to reduced weight gain, improved insulin sensitivity, and decreased liver inflammation—even in animals on high-calorie diets. This protein stimulates mitochondrial activity and promotes thermogenic gene expression, encouraging the production of heat through thermogenesis.

To achieve this, the team used a viral vector to overexpress neuritin 1 exclusively in thermogenic fat cells, resulting in sustained metabolic enhancement without affecting food consumption or physical activity. These findings suggest that neuritin 1 could be developed into a novel therapeutic target for obesity and metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, with a mechanism distinct from current medications.

Further, genetic data from humans indicate a correlation between neuritin 1 levels and susceptibility to obesity, underscoring its potential relevance to human health. Although still in early stages, this research opens new pathways for developing treatments that activate brown fat to combat obesity without calorie restriction.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-brown-fat-yield-strategy-tackle.html