Found this from +Eric Topol's Twitter feed.
Leptin is a hormone produced by the adipose tissue that acts in the brain, stimulating white fat breakdown. We find that the lipolytic effect of leptin is mediated through the action of sympathetic nerve fibers that innervate the adipose tissue. Using intravital two-photon microscopy, we observe that sympathetic nerve fibers establish neuro-adipose junctions, directly “enveloping” adipocytes. Local optogenetic stimulation of sympathetic inputs induces a local lipolytic response and depletion of white adipose mass. Conversely, genetic ablation of sympathetic inputs onto fat pads blocks leptin-stimulated phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase and consequent lipolysis, as do knockouts of dopamine β-hydroxylase, an enzyme required for catecholamine synthesis. Thus, neuro-adipose junctions are necessary and sufficient for the induction of lipolysis in white adipose tissue and are an efferent effector of leptin action. Direct activation of sympathetic inputs to adipose tissues may represent an alternative approach to induce fat loss, circumventing central leptin resistance.
And what I think that means is: White adipose tissue is "belly fat". Activating neurons in the adipose tissue with light creates leptin, which starts the brain into breaking it down. "Necessary and sufficient" that this does it and to do it, it's all you need.
Which could be cool. I don't know how to make this work. Put an LED board on my stomach? Does hue matter? Would red light be more effective than blue? Clearly, none of that's in the abstract. I should see if I can get this full paper from Purdue libraries. Then, I should see if I can make heads or tails of it.
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