The present disclosure relates to diets, compounds, e.g., GCN2 agonists and methods that selectively reduce adipose tissue mass relative to the mass of other tissue types and increase insulin sensitivity. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to methods for identifying GCN2 agonists that will decrease the activity and/or expression of one or more of adipogenic genes thereby selectively inhibiting the cellular mechanisms that lead to fat production. Such agonists have the effect of reducing adipose tissue mass in an individual.