Is Your Digital Life Making You Fat?
According to a new study on lab mice done at The Ohio State University, social engagement may be the key to decreasing white fat (the bad kind) and increasing the brown fat (the energy burning kind). Lab mice traditionally live in small cages, are given plenty of food and water, have a few playmates, but don’t have anything to do. In this study, mice were moved into more complex environments (mazes, wheels, toys, and more space) along with more individuals. Within four weeks, the mice were leaner, with abdominal fat decreasing by fifty percent.
The implications of this are very interesting for people, especially as obesity continues to rise. Is our digital social life inhibiting our ability to have a physical social life? Is this lack of in-person contact and stimulating environments the cause of the obesity epidemic? It’s all too soon to say, but it makes me want to participate in more activities.
Posted by Jennifer Carey on Sep. 07, 2011