The invention concerns a method for identifying compounds capable of modulating adipocyte differentiation, which consists in contacting a compound to be tested with genetically modified pre-adipocyte cells overexpressing the REV-ERB ALPHA receptor and measuring the adipocyte differentiation of said genetically modified cells as compared with the adipocyte differentiation of same said genetically modified pre-adipocyte cells in the absence of said compound to be tested.The invention also concerns genetically modified pre-adipocyte cells overexpressing the REV-ERB ALPHA receptor as well as the method for preparing said cells.