title: Assessment of feeding behavior in laboratory mice.
abstract: The global obesity epidemic has heightened the need for an improved understanding of how body weight is controlled, and research using mouse models is critical to this effort. In this perspective, we provide a conceptual framework for investigation of feeding behavior in this species, with an emphasis on factors that influence study design, data interpretation, and relevance to feeding behavior in humans. Although we focus on the mouse, the principles presented can be applied to most other animal models. This document represents the current consensus view of investigators from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers (MMPCs).
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-0615, USA. kate.ellacott@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Kate L J
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ellacott
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tso
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D015430:Weight Gain