Obesity is considered a strong factor in many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Along with genetics, consumption of excessive fat and cholesterol-rich food are the primary causes of obesity. We have developed an ionic liquid that interacts with fat to form micrometer-sized particles. The ionic liquid prevents the fat from penetrating through the intestinal membrane. We have observed that a regular dose of 10 μL of CAGE (equivalent to a 500-mg human dose) resulted in 12% less body weight gain compared with the rats treated with CAGE. The results from the animal studies support oral CAGE as a promising approach for treating obesity.
