Contrary to previous knowledge, the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) does not appear to be related to hypermetabolism in patients with emphysematous COPD. According to a new report published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle by Dr Annemie M. W. J. Schols from Maastricht University Medical Center, Netherlands and his colleagues, emphysematous patients did not exhibit enhanced BAT activity or altered gene expression of BAT markers in WAT compared with age, gender and BMI-matched healthy non-smoking controls. The researchers analysed 20 COPD patients and 2 case reports with cachectic cancer patients to conclude that there is indeed no correlation between BMR or TDEE and BAT activity in patients with emphysematous COPD.