The invention relates to the use of a compound of the retinoid type particularly retinoid acid for the preparation of a medicament capable of modulating in vivo the decoupling activity of decoupling proteins. These compounds can be used conveniently for the treatment of diseases associated to an increase or reduction of the activity of decoupling proteins. According to a preferred embodiment, the retinoid acid will be used for the treatment of disease associate to a reduction of the decoupling activity of the protein UCP2 such as for example obesity.