program fat cell death

I've come across some recent research which suggests how it may be possible to program fat cells toward self-destruction.
Anything that may inhibit lipogenesis or encourage lipolysis could be useful against the long-term war against obesity. Enough studies on medium-chain triglycerides have been conducted to where it's now a given that MCTs are stored less efficiently than LCTs. Not only this, but if this reduced fraction of MCTs even ends up as stored, it is able to mobilize out of fat tissue faster than LCTs. (reference)

Adiponectin

"Adiponectin exerts some of its weight reduction effects via the brain. This is similar to the action of leptin, but the two hormones perform complementary actions, and can have additive effects."

Leptin

In rats, brain administration of leptin causes deletion of adipocytes by apoptosis

MCFAs

One study concludes that MCFAs decrease adipocyte number by initiating adipocyte (fat cell) death.

Another study links C8 MCFAs to:
-a decrease in triglyceride synthesis
-reduction of lipogenic gene expression
-inactivation of PPARgamma

C8 MCFAs (octanoate) are again linked to PPARgamma expression.

"C8 may block adipogenesis at least in part by its influence on the expression/activation of PPARgamma."

Octanoate shows it can reduce TG synthesis and suppress de novo lipogenesis, both acutely and long term.

Another study involving isolated fat cells compared octanoate with oleate, a common LCT. Glycerol release was greater with octanoate, confirming this finding from other studies. Oleate induced fat cell differentiation whereas octanoate did not. Octanoate reached a maximum of 10% of fatty acids stored in fat cells.

neuropeptide Y (NPY) and leptin (new!)
"Rats fed with MCT diets had significantly higher ratios of hypothalamus/serum leptin in comparition with rats fed with LCT diets"

"Hypothalamus and serum NPY concentrations in rats fed with the MCT diets were more lower than those in rats fed with LCT diets"

Lower weight gain and higher expression and blood levels of adiponectin in rats fed medium-chain TAG compared with long-chain TAG

So the C8, C10 (octanoate, decanoate) medium-chain fatty acids appear to have the greatest effect on fat cells. I've found that MCT oil such as MCT Gold is entirely C8/C10 (67%/33%), and I'm using it liberally in my diet as a MCFA source.

C75

acts both centrally to reduce food intake and peripherally to increase fatty acid oxidation, leading to rapid and profound weight loss, loss of adipose mass, and resolution of fatty liver.

Dimethylaminopurine

At 100 micromol/L, DMAP completely inhibited the ability of insulin to counteract lipolysis in isolated adipocytes.

Octanoate addition results in simultaneous increases in mitochondrial ATP/ADP ratio and oxygen uptake...Octanoate-related activation of oxygen uptake
might be explained by the direct supply of reducing equivalents
into the matrix, resulting in a rapid, although transient, increase
in the mitochondrial redox potential.

(More on uncoupling..."the increase in hepatic oxygen consumption due to addition of fatty acids reflects a mitochondrial process; it is, in part, independent of the ATP demand of the cell. An uncoupling-like effect of fatty acids on the respiratory chain and its possible physiological significance in ketogenesis are discussed.")

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) aka "fish oil"

EPA or DHA, but primarily DHA may also induce lipolysis and as demonstrated in one study, fat cell death. Have a look:
"EPA/DHA may involve a metabolic switch in adipocytes that includes
"enhancement of beta-oxidation and upregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis" - potentially useful if planning to use mitochondria to burn fatty acids.
Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits adipocyte differentiation and induces apoptosis
Effects of seafood consumption and weight loss on ... [Eur J Nutr. 2009]
Adiponectin translation is increased by the PPARgamma agonists pioglitazone and omega-3 fatty acids
Individual fish-oil n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deposition and mobilization rates for adipose tissue of rats in a nutritional steady state -- Raclot and Groscolas 60 (1): 72 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Fish oil in a high lard diet prevents obesity, hyp... [Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1993]
Dietary fish oils limit adipose tissue hypertrophy... [Metabolism. 1990]

Nicotine

No research indicates fat cell death from nicotine, but nicotine appears to be a potent, not-necessarily-catecholamine mediated stimulator of lipolysis in both humans and rats. It increases basal lipolysis significantly, yet decreases that maximum lipolytic response to catecholamines. Meaning the preferred strategy of usage for me would be to use during times catecholamines are expected to be lower, such as far away from the cardio.

Systemic nicotine stimulates human adipose tissue lipolysis

Nicotine-infused rats gained 37% less weight and had 21% smaller fat pads. Basal lipolysis was 78% higher

Soy Isoflavones

Genistein Decreases Food Intake, Body Weight, and Fat Pad Weight and Causes Adipose Tissue Apoptosis

Soy has gotten a bad rap - deservedly so? - looked down upon or flat-out rejected for its inferior amino acid profile and acting as a phytoestrogen. I think there's probably a mainstream misconception that exaggerates the association between soy, femininity, and estrogen.
A good blog, Inhuman Experiment, has written on a study where soy reduced serum DHT and increased testosterone.