Mechanical signals curb adipose tissue dysfunction

What is it about?

This manuscript demonstrates that obesity leads to adipose tissue dysfunction and consequently impaired glucose metabolism. Subjecting the obese mice to a very low magnitude and high frequency mechanical stimulation for 6 weeks mitigates the deleterious effects of obesity. However, in these adult obese mice, mechanical stimulation is only effective when it is delivered in two bouts of 15 minute stimulation per day with a 5-hour refractory period between bouts, rather than one bout of 30 minute stimulation per day.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This study provides an insight into how exercise can be beneficial for obesity, emphasizing that with aging, the scheduling of physical activity is at least as important, if not more, than the activity itself. It also demonstrates that low magnitude and high frequency mechanical stimulation can serve as a non-pharmacological and non-invasive intervention for obesity without requiring strenuous exercise.