Research

Hormonal

Selective beta-3 adrenergic receptor (beta3AR) agonists prevent or reverse obesity and stimulate thermogenesis in animal models by inducing brown adipocytes in white fat and increasing energy expenditure, independent of food intake.

This research highlights beta-3 adrenergic receptors as a key target for treating obesity by increasing energy expenditure (thermogenesis) rather than suppressing appetite. While effective in animals, human application is complicated by lower receptor density. Future treatments may require highly selective drugs to be effective in humans.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
selective beta3AR agonists are able to prevent or reverse obesity and loss of beta3AR expression and to stimulate thermogenesis.
Sheila Collins · Recent Progress in Hormone Research · 2001

Why this rating

Strong evidence in multiple animal models (mice, rats, primates), but human efficacy is debated due to receptor differences.

Source

The  -Adrenergic Receptors and the Control of Adipose Tissue Metabolism and Thermogenesis

Sheila Collins · Recent Progress in Hormone Research · 2001

DOI 10.1210/rp.56.1.309

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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