How the brain's use of fatty acids is linked to obesity

Researchers have established a link between how lipid sensing and metabolism in the brain relate to the regulation of energy balance and body weight.

Hong Wang of University of Colorado created mice with a deficiency of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in neurons, and observed that the mouse models ate less and they became sedentary.

"This work may have important impact in understanding the causes of obesity and providing new treatments for this epidemic of our time," said Robert H. Eckel.

These mice became obese on a standard chow diet between three and six months. The research also looked at which areas of the brain have the greatest impact on regulating body weight...