Skin patch melts ‘love-handles’ in mice — Study

WASHINGTON: US researchers have developed a skin patch that can melt fat in mice, and future tests will reveal whether it could treat obesity and diabetes in people, a study said yesterday.

The patch uses nanotechnology to raise the body’s metabolism and transform energy- storing white fat into energy- burning brown fat, according to the report in ACS Nano, a publication of the American Chemical Society.

After four weeks, mice saw a 20 per cent reduction in body fat where the patch was applied.

“Many people will no doubt be excited to learn that we may be able to offer a noninvasive alternative to liposuction for reducing love handles,” said study co- author Li Qiang, assistant professor of pathology and cell biology at Columbia University Medical Centre in New York.

“What’s much more important is that our patch may provide a safe and effective means of treating obesity and related metabolic disorders such as diabetes.”

Researchers have been searching for a way to transform white fat into brown fat, which is more common in newborns and protects the body from cold temperatures.

Drugs are available to promote this process, called browning, but they must be given as pills or injections, which exposes the body to side effects such as stomach upset, weight gain and bone fractures, Qiang said.