As the new year begins, it’s interesting to look back at some of the most important research that came out last year, and what it might mean for us now and in the future. One of the biggest stories published last year appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, and it was about brown fat.
What is brown fat? It’s a special type of fat tissue that we used to think was only found in newborns. It helps regulate a process called thermogenesis, which is related to managing body heat and calorie burning – very important for little tiny babies. But now it appears that adult humans retain brown fat in their bodies, and it may play an important role in keeping them at a healthy weight – in part by burning calories to generate heat.
Dr. Aaron Cypess and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School used advanced imaging techniques to show that brown fat is present in adults. They also showed that women tend to have more than men, and that the amount goes down with advancing age and as people become more overweight.
Bottom line? Right now, we’re still trying to figure out how to help people keep their brown fat – but it seems clear that if we can do that, it’ll be a lot easier for people to maintain a healthy weight and avoid diabetes – because this type of fat actually makes you burn calories faster!
What to do in the meantime? Keep up your moderate exercise routine. Keep your BMI below 25. If you’re overweight or obese, start optimizing your lifestyle now so you’re ready when the next round of scientific advances becomes available!
