A team around Jens Brüning and Ulrich Rüther (University of Düsseldorf) published a paper in Nature, where it is found that the inactivation of a certain gene, the Fto gene, protects from obesity. Different versions of the Fto gene only are reason for a difference in weight of human beings of approximately 3 kilograms. The present study shows that the absence of the Fto gene in mice result in leaner mice with an increased energy expenditure. Further research should lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets in the treatment of obesity.