Scientists used to believe that BAT was important only in small animals and human infants, but it was recently discovered by us and others that in response to mild cold exposure, adult human BAT (hBAT) consumes more glucose by weight than any other tissue . In addition, human BAT may also combat weight gain by becoming more active in the setting of increased food consumption. This phenomenon has already been demonstrated in mice and rats, and its presence suggests that activation of human BAT could be used as a safe treatment for obesity and metabolic disease. Finally, emerging evidence indicates that human BAT may be an endocrine organ, which means that it releases hormones into the blood and regulates other organs of the body as well, including skeletal muscle, liver, and the insulin-releasing pancreatic Beta-cell.