Advances in imaging studies to assess thermogenic fat

Thermogenic fat promotes the release of energy in the form of heat through the characteristically high expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and its secretion of brown adipokine (batokine) is also involved in the regulation of systemic energy metabolism. Recent studies have confirmed that these functions of thermogenic fat are associated with the inhibition of tumour growth, the treatment of metabolic disorders, and the prediction of the onset and progression of childhood obesity. And the non-invasive assessment and monitoring of the amount and functional status of thermogenic fat may provide a more efficient tool for further in-depth exploration of relevant animal experiments and clinical studies. Imaging methods such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, single photon emission computerized tomography and contrast enhanced ultrasound have made great progress in this field, and this article reviews the imaging basis of thermogenic fat and the progress of imaging methods in evaluating thermogenic fat.