THE INVENTION RELATES TO SMALL MOLECULES HAVING BIOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY. PARTICULARLY, THE INVENTION RELATES TO SMALL MOLECULES HAVING LIPOLYTIC AND ANTI-ADIPOGENIC ACTIVITY. TWO EXAMPLES OF SUCH MOLECULES ARE 4-METHYL-2-(OCTANOYLAMINO) PENTANOIC ACID AND N-ISOPENTYLOCTANAMIDE. THE INVENTION FURTHER RELATES TO METHODS OF PREVENTING OR TREATING SKIN CONDITIONS SUCH AS CELLULITE USING SMALL MOLECULES HAVING LIPOLYTIC AND ANTI-ADIPOGENIC ACTIVITY. THE MOST ILLUSTRATIVE DRAWING IS FIG. 4.