A new study suggests mulberries could be key to new treatments for obesity, after finding a natural compound in the fruit activates brown fat, boosting metabolism and aiding weight loss.

Share on Pinterest Rutin – a natural compound in mulberries – could help treat obesity, new research finds.

Mulberries are the hanging fruit from deciduous trees that belong to the Moraceae family.

Sweet in taste, mulberries are believed to have a wealth of health benefits, including reduced cholesterol, improved blood sugar levels, and lower risk of cancer.

Now, researchers from China suggest that rutin – a compound naturally present in mulberries – might also help treat obesity.

Obesity has become a significant health concern in the United States; more than 1 in 3 adults and and 1 in 6 children and adolescents are obese, putting them at greater risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.

While lifestyle changes – such as adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity – are considered primary strategies for the treatment of obesity, such changes may not be enough for some individuals, highlighting the need for alternative treatment methods.

Study co-author Wan-Zhu Jin, Ph.D., of the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and team set out to investigate the metabolic effects of rutin, with the aim of determining whether the compound might aid weight loss.