Effects of cold acclimation on the feeding pattern and energetic metabolism of genetically obese Zucker rats.

1. The feeding pattern, growth rate and energetic metabolism were studied in obese Zucker rats of 5-12 weeks of age kept at ambient temperatures of 22 or 10 degrees C. 2. During this period, the increment in obesity of the 22 degrees C-exposed animal was found to be due to diurnal hyperphagia and not to a lowered resting metabolism. 3. In the 10 degrees C-exposed rat the development of non-shivering thermogenesis associated with a lack of enhancement of food intake leads to prevent the obesity.