Body's 'bad fat' could be altered to combat obesity, say scientists

By blocking a particular protein, unhealthy 'white' fat could be transformed into calorie-burning 'beige' fat, experiments show

"Bad fat" could be made to turn over a new leaf and combat obesity by blocking a specific protein, scientists have discovered.

Most fat in the body is unhealthy "white" tissue deposited around the waist, hips and thighs. But smaller amounts of energy-hungry "brown" fat are also found around the neck and shoulders. Brown fat generates heat by burning up excess calories.