effect of a high-energy diet and chemical compounds on the development of obeity

the mechanism of the genesis and development of obesity is not yet known. in particular, it is not known whether the main reason is and increase in energetic efficiency, i.e. better utilization of food consumed, or hyperplasia. this study was undertaken to throw some light on this subject. obesity was produced by chemical methods, i.e. by injections of gold-thioglucose and mono-sodium glutamate, as well as by feeding a high energy (high-fat-high-protein) diet, in weanling, female mice. in these mice food intake, growth rate and body composition changes during growth were investigated. the results obtained show that increased energetic efficiency rather and hyperplasia plays the dominant role in the genesis and development of obesity. more research has to be carried out on this subject in man.