Scientists have discovered that staying in the cold could help us lose weight. Researchers at the University of California found that exposure to the cold increases levels of a protein that helps form brown fat - the type of fat that generates heat and keeps us warm. Brown fat burns energy, which helps us lose weight. White fat stores excess energy, which results in weight gain. The researchers said that because air conditioning and heating give us constant, comfortable temperatures, our body's need for brown fat has decreased. They found that: "Outdoor workers in northern Finland who are exposed to cold temperature have a significant amount of brown fat when compared to same-aged indoor workers."

The research was conducted on two different control groups of mice. One group was injected with the protein that helps create brown fat. This group subsequently gained 30 per cent less weight after both groups were fed high-fat diets. The researchers say this could be good news in the fight against obesity. People who are obese have lower levels of brown fat than thinner people. Head researcher Hei Sook Sul said: "This protein could become an important target for research into the treatment and prevention of obesity and obesity-related diseases." She added: "If you can somehow increase levels of this protein…you could possibly lose more weight even if eating the same amount of food."

1. TRUE / FALSE:Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.Researchers at Chicago University found the cold helps us lose weight.T / F

b.Brown fat helps us lose weight.T / F

c.The use of air conditioning has reduced the amount of our brown fat.T / F

d.People who work outdoors have less brown fat than office workers.T / F

e.Mice with the new protein gained 30% less weight than mice without it.T / F

f.Obese people have lower levels of brown fat.T / F

g.A researcher said the protein would be no good to tackle obesity.T / F

h.The researcher said you would have to have the protein and eat less.T / F

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.Who discovered that the cold has a part to play in weight loss?

2.What did researchers find the cold increased levels of?

3.What does white fat do to excess energy?

4.What other thing besides air conditioning has decreased brown fat?

5.Where do outdoor workers have more brown fat than indoor workers?

6.In what kind of animals were the tests conducted?

7.How much less weight did the animals with the new protein gain?

8.For whom might this research be good news?

9.Who is Hei Sook Sul?

10.What could you do even while eating the same amount of food?

答案

TRUE / FALSE

a F b T c T d F e T f T g F h F

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.Scientists (at the University of California)

2.A protein (and brown fat)

3.Store it

4.Heating

5.Finland

6.Mice

7.30%

8.Obese people

9.The head researcher

10.Lose weight