Carbs may get stored as fats

SYDNEY, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Mice studies by Australian scientists show burning fats will not -- as many hoped -- speed weight loss.

The study findings, published in Cell Metabolism, suggest "fat burning" does not make fat stores evaporate and make people who have not changed food intake or energy expenditure thin.

The researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney used special mice genetically altered to burn fats and found they lost no more weight than normal mice because unburned carbohydrates were converted into stored fat.

"Our data urges a correction in people's concept of a magic bullet -- something that will miraculously make them thin while they sit on the couch watching television," study author Greg Cooney said in a statement.

The take-home message, Cooney said, is the only reliable way to lose weight is to eat less or exercise more. Preferably both.

Cooney did point out the study didn't investigate all impacts of fat oxidation.

"For example, manipulating fat metabolism may -- or may not -- lead to better insulin action in muscles or in the liver. Should insulin action be improved, that would obviously benefit obese people with Type 2 diabetes. But we can't comment either way until we do the experiments" Cooney said.