UCLA Study Uncovers Why Obesity Raises Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

New Delhi: Researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) have uncovered how obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by targeting fat cells. The study, published in Cell Reports, reveals a critical mechanism where obesity impairs the body’s ability to create smaller, healthy fat cells, leading to energy imbalances that contribute to diabetes development.

The research team focused on fat stem cells, which play a pivotal role in producing new fat cells that store energy and regulate metabolism. In obesity, the body struggles to produce essential cellular building blocks called ribosomal factors, hindering the ability of fat stem cells to differentiate into functioning fat cells. Instead, existing fat cells grow excessively large, trapping energy and disrupting glucose metabolism.

The study’s senior author, Dr Claudio Villanueva, Associate Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology at UCLA, explained, “Fat tissue is essential for maintaining normal glucose metabolism. However, in obesity, too much fat tissue that doesn’t function properly contributes to diseases like type 2 diabetes.”

Using obese and diabetic mice as models, the researchers observed that their fat cells were four to five times larger than those in lean mice. By administering rosiglitazone, a drug known to improve fat cell function, the team observed a restoration of ribosomal factor production. This triggered the creation of new, smaller fat cells, allowing fat tissue to function properly and regulate energy storage. Importantly, while the mice remained obese, their type 2 diabetes was significantly improved.

The study also highlights how dysfunctional fat tissue redirects excess energy to other organs, such as the liver and heart, increasing the risk of conditions like fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis.

The researchers emphasized the potential implications for treatment. “Our findings suggest that targeting fat stem cells to enhance their function could be a promising strategy for managing type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related disorders,” said Dr Villanueva.

This research provides a deeper understanding of obesity-related diabetes and paves the way for future therapies aimed at improving fat tissue function rather than merely reducing body weight.