Analysis of the consequences of pharmacological activation of HSF1 during high-fat diet via celastrol, a natural HSF1 agonist present in herbal extracts used in Chinese medicine, revealed enhanced subcutaneous fat browning, increased thermogenesis and energy consumption, and reduced adipose tissue expansion, providing a proof of concept that HSF1 may represent a possible target in obesity prevention. The gene discussed is HSF1; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.