Sildenafil - better known by its brand name Viagra - has been used to treat erectile dysfunction for a long time. However, researchers have also discovered that Viagra can also be used for a more surprising purpose: to fight obesity. Researchers from the University of Bonn and the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Germany have found out how, and the findings may have profound implications for the 500 million people in the world who are overweight or obese.

Researchers discovered that mice that were given sildenafil were resistant to obesity, even when fed a high-fat diet. In the study, they gave mice the drug and studied its effect on their fat cells. They found that the drug converts white fat cells - often found in humans' "problem areas" and which can cause inflammation and chronic diseases - into beige fat cells. "Beige fat cells burn the energy from ingested food and convert it to heat," study author Dr. Alexander Pfeiffer explained in a statement. It also melts fat, which makes it a powerful ally against obesity.

Researchers also found that sildenafil had another powerful trick. White fat cells may become "stuffed", accumulating lipids that make them bigger and cause them to release hormones and inflammation. That inflammation can make people more prone to deadly chronic diseases and other conditions, like heart attacks, strokes and cancer. Taking sildenafil prevented mice's white fat cells from beginning that slippery slope, indicating that even white fat cell production was healthier.

The study may have important implications for the half a billion people who are overweight or obese, but researchers do not suggest taking Viagra to prevent obesity just yet. Studies have only been conducted on mice, so further studies need to be performed in order to create suitable drugs for humans.

The study was published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

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