This disclosure relates to compositions and methods for recruiting brown adipocytes in vitro from brown adipocyte progenitor cells found in human skeletal muscle. Said compositions for use in methods for treating metabolic disease are also provided. In some embodiments, the brown adipocyte recruiter is a human protein or peptide. In other embodiments the brown adipocyte recruiter may be a non-human protein or peptide. In still other embodiments, the brown adipocyte recruiter is a small molecule or natural product.