In addition to its classic role in the storage and release of nonesterified fatty acids, the adipocyte is now recognized as a critical source of many endocrine signals. Of these signals, adiponectin has been found to promote lipid oxidation and glucose uptake in skeletal muscles and to reduce glucose output in the liver. Because of the effects of adiponectin on these organs, the search for factors or conditions that could positively influence the synthesis of this adipocyte-derived protein has drawn a great deal of interest. This brief review explores the effects of environmental influences such as weight loss, acute food intake, exercise, and cold exposure on circulating adiponectin levels in humans.