Obesity

Genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of obesity, and diet is one of the main environmental factors that contribute to obesity and its related metabolic diseases. Human studies have shown that increased fat intake is associated with body weight gain which can lead to obesity and other related metabolic diseases. As such, rodent animal models are useful tools to determine the mechanistic aspects of obesity and to develop therapeutic approaches as they will readily gain weight when fed high-fat diets.

Important factors to consider when designing a diet-induced obesity study using animal models are:

Matched Formulas

Low-fat Purified Ingredient Diet*

Calories from Fat

32% to 60%

Types of Fat

lard, beef tallow, coconut oil, milk fat, fish oils

Commonly Used Strains

C57BL/6J, AKR/J mice, Sprague-
Dawley, Wistar, F344x Brown Norway rats

*For those requiring a matched control diet, be sure to use a purified ingredient matched diet rather than a grain-based diet.