Sound waves can shrink fat

Japanese researchers have provided new avenues for applying acoustic techniques for non-invasive weight loss

- REWATI KARAN

THE AREA OF sound is fascinating researchers and after a recent study of bendable sound waves that could result in localized reception, they have now delved into how sound can be used in weight loss. The science of sound is shaping everything from immersive concerts to private audio bubbles, and now Japanese researchers from Kyoto University and Kansai University have tuned into the body itself with astonishing results.

A groundbreaking study published in Communications Biology recently reveals that certain sound frequencies may help reduce fat by directly modulating the genes inside cells. Scientists have found that sound, which is essentially mechanical energy vibrating through air, water or even tissue, can alter biological processes including the formation of fat cells. This has provided new avenues for applying acoustic techniques in biosciences. "We investigate how cells respond to the physiological range of acoustic irradiation that defines the biological significance of sound as a mechanical stimulation and uncover the fundamental relationships between life and sound," write researchers Masahiro Kumeta, et al, in their peer-reviewed study. They tried to understand whether acoustics influence the body at the genetic level. And the answer appears to be yes.

How did they do this?