Cold Exposure and the Metabolism of Mice, Men, and Other Wonderful Creatures

Laboratory rodents and cold-adapted animals in the wild use a significant amount of the energy derived from food intake for heat generation. Thermogenesis involving mitochondrial uncoupling in the brown adipose tissue differs quantitatively in mice, humans, and cold-adapted animals and could be an important ally to combat obesity if humans were prepared to deviate slightly from thermoneutral living conditions to activate this pathway.

Automated summary

Laboratory rodents and cold-adapted animals utilize a significant amount of energy from food intake for heat generation. Activation of mitochondrial uncoupling in brown adipose tissue may be a key ally in combating obesity.