Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, are studying a compound called TOFA that may help the body use more energy instead of working only by reducing appetite.In experiments with mice, TOFA increased energy use by as much as 18 percent. The mice lost body fat without a significant drop in lean muscle and also showed improvements in blood sugar, triglycerides, and signs of fatty liver disease.The compound appears to work in two connected ways: it interferes with the production of some fats and activates pathways that encourage cells to use fat for fuel.When tested with GLP-1 medicines in mice, TOFA produced larger improvements in several measures than either treatment alone. The researchers stress that the compound has not yet been tested as a treatment in people, so its safety and effectiveness are still unknown.