Metabolic Disorders | University Categories | Washington State Magazine

Spring 2022

Bear videos and stories

Watch the the bears at the Washington State University Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center, a one-of-a-kind facility providing information and understanding for bear conservation.

The bears also provide invaluable insight into human health because of their ability to regulate insulin and avoid muscle atrophy during hibernation.

Watch the bears at the WSU Bear Center:

Bear Conservation and Research

Bears digging a den

October enrichment for the bears

A key to human heart disease could lie with hibernating grizzly bears

More photos and videos of the grizzlies at the WSU Bear Center

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Fall 2016

Body fat has gotten a bad rap in recent years. It’s understandable given that 70 percent of American adults are reportedly overweight or obese, costing $190 billion per year in related medical bills. But new research shows not all fat is created equal.

Washington State University professor of animal sciences Min Du says our bodies are equipped with both good and bad types of fat that naturally work together to balance weight and metabolism. The process—along with a little help from diet and exercise— involves an intricate interplay between white, beige, and brown fat—or adipose tissue.

“When most people think of body fat, they’re … » More …