Pharmacological and nutritional agents promoting browning of white adipose tissue

► Brown fat has a clear therapeutic potential for obesity management. ► Browning implies the acquisition of brown-fat properties in white adipose tissue. ► White adipose tissue browning has been related to decreased adiposity in animal models. ► Specific drugs and food compounds are able to induce white adipose tissue browning. ► The physiological relevance of browning in humans needs further investigation.