The invention relates to the field of obesity and related metabolic diseases. More specifically, the invention relates to methods of reducing aggrecanase activity or antigen in mammals in order to enhance brown adipose tissue (BAT) development, to promote conversion of white adipose tissue (WAT) into BAT in vivo, and to limit triglyceride accumulation and steatosis in the liver. The invention also relates to a strategy of neutralization or depletion of ADAMTS5 as a strategy to inhibit adipogenesis and more specifically, the invention relates to a method of reducing aggracanase-2 (ADAMTS5, A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motif 1 member 5) antigen and/or activity in mammals in order to impair differentiation of precursor cells into mature adipocytes (i.e., adipogenesis).
