Researchers at UC Berkeley discover that the compound TOFA may offer a new approach to tackling obesity by enhancing the body’s energy use rather than solely suppressing appetite, with promising results in preclinical trials.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley say a little-known compound called TOFA may offer a different route to treating obesity and related metabolic disease: encouraging the body to burn more energy rather than simply suppressing appetite. In findings published in Science Advances, the team reported that the molecule, 5-tetradecyloxy-2-furoic acid, improved several markers of metabolic health in obese mice without reducing food intake or physical activity.
The work matters because the most successful new weight-loss drugs, including GLP-1 medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, largely work by making people eat less. Those treatments have transformed care for obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease, but they can also bring nausea and other digestive side effects. Researchers have also warned that appetite suppression may contribute to nutritional shortfalls and muscle loss in some patients, raising concerns about long-term frailty.
According to the Science Advances paper and a summary on PubMed, TOFA appears to work through a different biological pathway. It inhibits the enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and 2, which help drive fat production, while activating PPAR-alpha and PPAR-delta, genes linked to energy expenditure and fat-burning. In mice, the compound improved insulin sensitivity, blood sugar control, triglyceride levels and signs of fatty liver disease, while reducing fat mass without significantly affecting lean muscle.
A UC Berkeley summary said the compound increased energy expenditure by as much as 18% in obese mice. The same report said TOFA performed even better when paired with GLP-1 drugs, producing stronger effects on body weight and metabolic markers than either treatment alone. The results are still preclinical, but they point to a possible future in which obesity medicines combine appetite control with a direct boost to the body’s energy use.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
