Exposure to sunlight might be the answer to weight problems during winter months, according to a new British research, which might lead to new treatments for the prevention or reversal of obesity.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham have found exposure to daylight could promote Brown adipose tissue (BAT) function, more common in females, leading to new ways of preventing obesity.
BAT -- brown fat's primary function is to generate body heat to keep one from shivering. It is capable of producing up to 300 times more heat per unit mass compared with all other tissues. Therefore, promoting BAT function could prevent or reduce obesity in some people, the researchers said.
The new study, led by Michael Symonds, Professor of Developmental Physiology at the university, has shown -- for the first time -- that daylight is a major factor in controlling BAT activity.
"Our research has suggested a previously unknown mechanism for controlling BAT function in humans and this could potentially lead to new treatments for the prevention or reversal of obesity," said Professor Symonds.
The body's requirements for BAT has been reduced in recent times by central heating plus global warming.
The presence of BAT was documented and correlated in studied over 3500 patients with monthly changes in daylight and ambient temperature. Their results showed that BAT was more common in females and that changes in BAT activity were more closely associated with day light.
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