The present inventors produced lotus leaf extracts, and discovered that
quercetin is one of the active ingredients. As a result of treating
.beta..sub.3-adrenergic receptor-expressing cells and feeding diabetes
model mice with quercetin and evaluating its effects, the present
inventors discovered specifically that quercetin produces
obesity-improving effects and antidiabetic effects by acting as a
.beta..sub.3-adrenergic receptor agonist.