Obesity

Food Intake Studies
The effects of chronic drug administration on food intake can be measured in normal lean rats and diet-induced obese rats or Levin rats. When given chronically, the properties of test compounds should be seen over a four week period.
Pica Behavior
Non-specific decreases in food intake induced by gastrointestinal malaise can be difficult to detect as rats do not vomit in response to emetic stimuli and may therefore look behaviorally normal. However, it has been demonstrated that rats will eat inert substances such as kaolin which helps prevent the toxin being absorbed and possibly provides symptomatic relief. This behavior is called pica.