title: Intentional weight loss reduces mortality rate in a rodent model of dietary obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We used a rodent model of dietary obesity to evaluate effects of caloric restriction-induced weight loss on mortality rate. Research Measures and Procedures: In a randomized parallel-groups design, 312 outbred Sprague-Dawley rats (one-half males) were assigned at age 10 weeks to one of three diets: low fat (LF; 18.7% calories as fat) with caloric intake adjusted to maintain body weight 10% below that for ad libitum (AL)-fed rat food, high fat (HF; 45% calories as fat) fed at the same level, or HF fed AL. At age 46 weeks, the lightest one-third of the AL group was discarded to ensure a more obese group; the remaining animals were randomly assigned to one of three diets: HF-AL, HF with energy restricted to produce body weights of animals restricted on the HF diet throughout life, or LF with energy restricted to produce the body weights of animals restricted on the LF diet throughout life. Life span, body weight, and leptin levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals restricted throughout life lived the longest (p < 0.001). Life span was not different among animals that had been obese and then lost weight and animals that had been nonobese throughout life (p = 0.18). Animals that were obese and lost weight lived substantially longer than animals that remained obese throughout life (p = 0.002). Diet composition had no effect on life span (p = 0.52).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight loss after the onset of obesity during adulthood leads to a substantial increase in longevity in rats.
authors.affiliation: New York Obesity Research Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vasselli
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weindruch
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Heymsfield
authors.forename: F Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Pi-Sunyer
authors.forename: Carol N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Boozer
authors.forename: Nengjun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Chenxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietrobelli
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015996:Survival Rate; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats