DOES SUNSHINE HELP? A New Way To Treat Obesity? UV Light Found To Prevent Body Weight Gain. “Recent evidence has suggested that UV exposure limits body weight gain in mouse models of obesity. Subcutaneous fat is a critical organ in regulating energy homeostasis. Alongside previous studies on the effects of UV exposure on obesity and metabolic disorders, our team was inspired by our prior discovery that, although UV rays do not directly reach subcutaneous fat when exposed to the skin, they can regulate the metabolism of subcutaneous fat. . . . They found that UV radiation inhibits weight gain by enhancing the secretion of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which not only decreases leptin but also increases energy expenditure through the ‘browning’ of subcutaneous fat.”