Established diet-induced obesity in female rats leads to offspring hyperphagia, adiposity and insulin resistance

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: Accumulating evidence suggests that maternal obesity may increase the risk of metabolic disease in the offspring. We investigated the effects of established maternal diet-induced obesity on male and female offspring appetite, glucose homeostasis and body composition in rats. Methods: Female Wistar rats were fed either a standard chow (3% fat, 7% sugar [wt/wt]) or a palatable obesogenic diet (11% fat, 43% sugar [wt/wt]) for 8 weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. Male and female offspring of control and obese dams were weaned on to standard chow and assessed until 12 months of age. Results: At mating, obese dams were heavier than control with associated hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia. Male and female offspring of obese dams were hyperphagic (p∈