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Some individuals become obese while others remain lean on a high energy diet. The cause of this susceptibility to the development of diet-induced obesity is still unknown. Variations in energy intake, expenditure and the type of substrate being oxidised, as well as peptide YY system regulation are believed to contribute to differential susceptibility to the development of diet-induced obesity. To answer these questions, a project was taken place to compare energy balance regulation including energy intake and expenditure, and the peptide YY regulation in diet-induced obese and diet-resistant mice. To investigate energy balance, this project measured food intake, body mass gain, spontaneous activity, 24h-metabolic rates and body composition in these mice. Plasma PYY and its central binding sites (Neuropeptide Y-Y1, 2 and 5 receptors) were also measured. The result of this project has definitely given an insight into the major contributing factor to diet-induced obesity in this animal model and how the peptide YY regulation may contribute at least partially towards the development of diet-induced obesity.

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Following her Bachelor of Medical Science degree, Gita Rahardjo completed the Master of Science research course in University of Wollongong on the topic of obesity, which produced this work. She is currently working in Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, pursuing her career as a researcher.

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