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Soybean oil linked to weight gain in mice — Level A1 — a bowl of nuts and a pineapple

Soybean oil linked to weight gain in miceCEFR A1

1 Dec 2025

LevelA1A2B1B2

Adapted from Jules Bernstein - UC Riverside, Futurity • CC BY 4.0

Photo by Alexander Sergienko, Unsplash

Level A1 – Beginner
2 min
84 words
  • Scientists at UCR study soybean oil and weight.
  • Soybean oil is common in many processed foods.
  • Many mice on a high-fat soybean diet gain weight.
  • Other engineered mice do not gain weight.
  • These mice make a different liver protein HNF4α.
  • Soybean oil contains linoleic acid, a common fat.
  • The body converts linoleic acid into oxylipins.
  • Oxylipins link to inflammation and fat in the liver.
  • Use of soybean oil rose five-fold from 2% to nearly 10%.
  • Researchers also saw higher cholesterol in mice.

Difficult words

  • soybean oil — vegetable oil common in many foods
  • processed foods — products made in factories for eating
  • engineered — changed by scientists to have new traits
  • liver — an organ in the body that makes proteins
    liver protein
  • linoleic acid — a common fat found in many vegetable oils
  • oxylipins — molecules made from fats that affect the body
  • inflammation — the body's response that causes redness and swelling
  • cholesterol — a substance in blood linked to heart health

Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.

Discussion questions

  • Do you eat foods with soybean oil?
  • Do you eat processed foods?
  • Do you check your weight?

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