Eternity Healthcare Inc. (fka ETAH)

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'Good' brown fat stimulated by cold, study shows

Brown fat is a beneficial type of fat that burns energy and glucose to make heat, and animal studies have shown that it protects against diabetes and obesity. Now, new research suggests long-term exposure to cold environments can stimulate growth of this "good" fat in humans, potentially benefitting glucose and energy metabolism.

Cold increased brown fat, while warmth suppressed it

Results showed that the mild cold (at 19º C) increased the men's brown fat amount and activity by about 30-40%, while the mild warmth (at 27º C) decreased the amount of brown fat to below that of baseline.

Warmer houses 'could be contributing to obesity'

The study authors say their findings lead them to hypothesize that manipulating temperature in order to grow brown fat could be a promising strategy in obesity and diabetes treatment.

"So in addition to unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, it is tempting to speculate that the subtle shift in temperature exposure could be a contributing factor to the rise in obesity," he concludes.

Read full article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278646.php