Cachexia is the name of a syndrome that is associated with numerous chronic diseases. Although the occurrence of cachexia can have serious implications on patients’ health and survival, there are many aspects of this syndrome that are unknown and therapeutic options remain very limited. Scientists from Andreas Bergthaler’s research group at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences emphasize the need for more research into cachexia in their recent publication in Nature Reviews Immunology. In order to counteract cachexia and numerous other diseases, a better understanding of the interplay between the immune system and metabolism is needed.