The invention provides methods, therapeutics and kits for treating and preventing diseases or conditions associated with excessive lipolysis, in particular TNF-α induced lipolysis, and / or excessive free fatty acid levels. Exemplary conditions include insulin-resistance, diabetes, in particular NIDDM, obesity, glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, and coronary artery disease. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes administering to a subject in need a pharmaceutically effective amount of an inhibitor of the JNK signal transduction pathway and / or an inhibitor of the MAPK / ERK signal transduction pathway.