Having 'brown fat' may protect against several chronic diseases – but what exactly is it?

Brown fat is hailed as a "good" fat for a range of reasons and, according to the findings of a new study, there's yet another advantage to add to the list: the presence of brown fat in your body means that you are less likely to suffer from a range of health conditions.

According to researchers from The Rockefeller University in New York, who conducted a large study with more than 52 000 participants, brown fat was found in just under 10% (5 070 people). They stated that the presence of this kind of fat in the human body can be associated with a lower risk of certain health conditions.

Based on these findings, co-author of the study, Dr Paul Cohen from the Rockefeller University Hospital, said in a university news release that the researchers feel confident about the potential of targeting brown fat for therapeutic benefit.