Compositions and methods for treatment of obesity and/or Type II diabetes and related metabolic disorders are provided wherein the methods and treatments comprise an effective amount of an isolated and/or purified C1q/TNF-related Protein-9 (CTRP9) or a functional portion thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods of screening for molecules which elevate levels of CTRP9 in vivo are also provided. The present inventors provide the first in vivo evidence linking CTRP9 to regulation of fat metabolism in liver and skeletal muscle via AMPK signaling pathway, and highlight its protective metabolic function in the context of HFD-mediated metabolic insults.
