title: Metabolic dysfunction following weight cycling in male mice.
abstract: Combatting overweight or obesity can lead to large fluctuations in an individual's body weight, often referred to as weight cycling or 'yo-yo' dieting. Current evidence regarding the potentially damaging effects of these changes is conflicting.
  
  
  
  Here, we assess the metabolic effects of weight cycling in a murine model, comprising three dietary switches to normal or high-fat diets at 6 week intervals; male C57BL/6 mice were fed either a control (C) or high-fat (F) diet for 6 weeks (n=140/group). C and F groups were then either maintained on their initial diet (CC and FF, respectively) or switched to a high-fat (CF) or control (FC) diet (n=35/group). For the final 6 week interval, CC and CF groups were returned to the control diet (CCC and CFC groups), while FC and FF groups were placed on a high-fat diet (FCF and FFF) (n=28/group).
  
  
  
  For the majority of metabolic outcomes changes aligned with dietary switches; however, assessment of neuropeptides and receptors involved in appetite regulation and reward signalling pathways reveal variable patterns of expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that multiple cycling events leads to a significant increase in internal fat deposition, even when compared with animals maintained on a high-fat diet (internal fat: FCF: 7.4±0.2 g vs FFF: 5.6±0.2 g; P<0.01).
  
  
  
  Increased internal adipose tissue is strongly linked to the development of metabolic syndrome associated conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Although further work will be required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the neuronal control of energy homoeostasis, these studies provide a causative link between weight cycling and adverse health.
authors.affiliation: Metabolic and Molecular Imaging Group, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: J R C
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Optimal Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Henley
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Optimal Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahuri-Arisoylu
authors.affiliation: Metabolic and Molecular Imaging Group, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Canon
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Optimal Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005749:Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; C577686:interleukin-6, mouse; D005749:Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide