Managing weight loss isn’t easy. While you might believe it simply comes down to calories in versus calories out, it’s not quite that straightforward. There are factors like age, metabolism, health status, thyroid fluctuations, and so on, each of which compounds an already difficult process into something that feels unmanageable for many people. 

For this reason, fat loss research is always full steam ahead. There are so many different compounds and substances that show promise, some of which are already well established to be safe and effective, while others need much more time in the research phase. 

In this article, you’ll learn about eight areas that excite scientists the most. 

1. Resistance Training

Resistance training (or weight training) is extremely popular today, but few consider it an effective way to burn fat. 

While lifting weights predominantly causes positive changes in lean mass and strength, it’s also a potent calorie burner, and research shows that it helps raise metabolic rate long after the session has ended. 

Moreover, it’s essential that those who are on a calorie-restricted diet lift weights so that they don’t lose muscle mass; you don’t only lose fat in a calorie deficit, but also the tissues you want to keep, and regular resistance training signals to your body to stay anabolic (keep building). 

2. Psychological Strategies

A large portion of the obesity problem the world faces has its root causes in psychological issues, not physical ones. 

Poor eating habits are, more often than not, the result of a behavioral response to a person’s thought process or mindset, so without careful attention to why the person is overeating, it’s less likely a successful outcome will be achieved, no matter what diet, training program, or drug they’re using. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been the most heavily researched form of psychotherapy for those suffering from eating disorders. It helps an individual reframe their thought processes in a more grounded reality, so that they’re less likely to choose the behavioral crutches that they’ve become accustomed to. 

3. Intermittent Fasting

The benefits of intermittent fasting may be old news, but research is still ongoing to fine-tune the methodology and generate faster results. 

Fasting has shown a lot of promise over the years for modulating metabolism, not only facilitating better overall health, but also greater weight management. One particularly interesting area focuses on how timing eating in accordance with a person’s circadian rhythm can help enhance fat loss, so that’s a key area to look into if you’re interested. 

4. Yohimbine HCL 

Yohimbine HCL comes from the bark of a certain species of tree, and has interested researchers for its potential ability to stimulate fat loss. 

Studies have shown that the compound works as a receptor agonist on alpha-2 adrenergic, which is thought to have the effect of increasing fat mobilization in the lower half of the body (considered a stubborn area for many people). 

That said, there’s a fair amount of risk involved, so it isn’t currently recommended for human consumption. 

5. Methods for Enhancing Metabolic Flexibility

Metabolic flexibility broadly refers to the body’s ability to switch between using carbohydrates, fat, and sometimes protein, for fuel. Research has shown that, in general, the greater degree of metabolic flexibility a person has (how efficiently they’re able to switch), the more primed they are to use fat stores for energy. 

This is a particularly important finding in relation to the calorie-restricted diets associated with an energy deficit. If the body can preferentially ‘choose’ to target predominantly body fat for energy as opposed to circulating carbohydrate, the individual will have a much easier time with their diet. 

The main way of increasing metabolic flexibility is by staying generally healthy. Those who engage in a variety of different exercise types (both steady state and high intensity cardiovascular exercise as well as resistance training) keep the body’s energy systems strong and efficient. 

6. Brown Fat Activation

There’s also been a lot of research focused on brown fat (beige adipose tissue) recently. Rather than storing fat like white adipose tissue, brown fat burns it; researchers have found that cold exposure in particular, has the potential to activate the mechanisms through which brown fat increases overall energy expenditure, though there’s still a lot of work to be done to determine the details. 

If a system for consistently activating brown fat could be devised, it could be an excellent addition to traditional weight loss methods like diet and exercise. 

7. Increasing Satiety

Obesity is partly an issue of low satiety (not feeling full). A lot of the cravings that people have come about because they don’t feel satisfied after eating a full meal, and so only a short time later, they feel the need to have more. Pair this with the fact that high-calorie junk foods are not very satiating at all, and you can see where the problem stems from. 

The GLP-1 drugs have been at the center of a lot of clinical research discussions for this reason, given their high success rate in modulating a person’s appetite so that they stay fuller for longer. Drugs aren’t the only way, though: managing sleep, stress, and anxiety can also have a big impact. 

8. Hormonal Optimization

Hormones are critical components for everyday function, and they have a major bearing on not only why people overeat in the first place, but also how they can overcome the problem. 

Once again, lifestyle optimization is at the core. Avoiding stress as much as possible (and exercising methods for destressing), getting enough exercise, spending time in nature, and consuming enough micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and healthy fats are all essential. 

In addition, a person may also have a hormonal imbalance that contributes negatively, due to menopausal fluctuations, thyroid issues, or simply genetic differences. These should be addressed promptly by a doctor. 

Given the importance of this topic, research on hormones and their relation to weight loss is always underway.

Wrapping Up

Weight loss is a deceptively complex problem, and achieving a plan that works for everyone requires a consideration of both the physiological and psychological issues at play. The research has already come so far, but there’s plenty more to be done to make a significant dent in the obesity crisis.