While these findings may be somewhat discouraging news for those wishing to reverse obesity through dietary interventions, they also highlight the importance of exercise.

Obesity is a very complex disease, and this metabolic pathway probably does not fully explain obesity, but we now know that SCD1 is at least a very important contributor.

We found that obesity was associated with a threefold increase in SCD1 expression in obese muscle, as well as a threefold higher level of SCD1 enzyme, compared to lean muscle.

Obesity is a very complex disease, and this metabolic pathway does not fully explain obesity, but it is a likely contributor.

This is a very important clue, because it indicates this program of fat storage is perpetuated as these cells divide. It's not driven strictly by over-nutrition.

The cells of obese people remembered their metabolic program, which could help explain, in part, why losing weight and maintaining weight loss is so difficult.