Socialize Your Way to a Slimmer You by Turning Bad Fat Into Good

Getting social could be the key to weight loss. The act of immersing yourself in a socially engaging environment could trigger the conversion of white (bad) fat into brown (good) fat that leads to a trimmer waistline, according to researchers from Ohio State University.

The report on the the study, recently published in Cell Metabolism, gives the details of how researchers monitored mice placed in an enriched, stimulating lab environment among other mice and discovered that they lost more fat than did mice living in more isolated lab conditions.

While white fat has a tendency to accumulate around the waistline, brown fat cells function to regulate body temperature by buring energy for heat. Brown fat cells contain dark-colored mitochondria that burn calories versus storing them.

Although all humans are born with a considerable amount of brown fat, the deposits diminish as we age. The researchers speculate that the stress associated with living in an enriched environment may compel white fat cells to trigger particular cellular pathways and receptors, causing them to behave like brown fat.

Dr. Matthew During, senior study author and professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics at Ohio State, noted that it’s not always easy living with others. Constant interaction, sharing space, and competing for food and mates takes a toll. He pointed out, “Not all social interaction is friendly and happy,” and added, “It's much more dynamic, challenging and mildly stressful.”

For the study, mice were placed in socially challenging environments of 15 to 20 animals. In addition, toys, running wheels, a maze, and tunnels were added. Findings showed that these mice had a better ability to transform white fat into brown fat. Thus, they lost more abdominal fat than mice living in lonelier conditions, as well as gained less weight when fed a high-fat diet.

Key lifestyle changes to make – Page 2