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Diet-induced obesity model

What is a Diet-Induced Obesity (DIO) model?A pathological model created by allowing experimental animals such as mice and rats to freely consume a "high-fat diet" with an increased lipid ratio for a certain period.Pharmacodynamics(PD) Studies

By inducing obesity through the acquired environmental factor of overnutrition, without any genetic manipulation, this model accurately replicates the process of obesity in modern humans caused by overeating and unhealthy lifestyles. This model exhibits not only visceral fat accumulation and weight gain but also pathologies closely resembling human lifestyle diseases (metabolic syndrome), such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Therefore, it is widely used in research for the development of treatments for obesity and metabolic diseases, as well as for elucidating their pathologies.

The main subjects of research utilization

Here is a table summarizing the primary diseases studied in diet-induced obesity models and their uses.

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Disease under investigation	How to use the model
Obesity	Elucidation of body fat accumulation mechanisms, evaluation of anti-obesity drugs
Type 2 diabetes	Progression of insulin resistance and evaluation of improvement in hyperglycemia
Dyslipidemia	Metabolic abnormalities of cholesterol and triglycerides
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD/MASH)	Fatty liver and fibrosis

Review of diet-induced obesity models

Highly cited classic reviews

Animal models of obesity Obesity Reviews (2007)

This review systematically organizes the diverse animal models used in obesity research,Comparison of the characteristics of each method, including genetically modified models and diet-induced obesity (DIO) modelsIt is highlighted for its usefulness in analyzing the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in energy balance, feeding behavior, and weight regulation. The similarities and limitations with human obesity are also discussed. The DIO model is considered important as one of the models that can reproduce obesity based on environmental factors.

Reference: Animal Models of Obesity Obesity Reviews (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17316303/)

The use of animal models in diabetes research British Journal of Pharmacology (2012)

This review isAnimal models used in research for type 1 and type 2 diabetesThis comprehensively explains the models, organizing their reproducibility and applications for each condition. In type 2 diabetes, models involving obesity or induced by high-fat diets are widely used to analyze insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction. It is pointed out that the combined use of multiple models is important for evaluating drug efficacy and understanding disease progression.

Reference: The use of animal models in diabetes research British Journal of Pharmacology (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22352879/)

Latest reviews

Of Mice and Men: Considerations on Adipose Tissue Physiology in Animal Models of Obesity and Human Studies Metabolism Open (2022)

This review isDifferences in Adipose Tissue Physiology Between Animal Models and Humans in Obesity Researchfocuses on the differences between mice and humans in fat distribution, adipocyte function, and inflammatory responses, pointing out the need for caution in interpreting results. On the other hand, dietary-induced obesity models are useful for elucidating the mechanisms of adipose tissue dysfunction and metabolic diseases, and the importance of integrative understanding with human studies is discussed.

Reference: Of mice and men: considerations on adipose tissue physiology in animal models of obesity and human studies Metabolism Open (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36092796/)

Animal Models for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Advantages and Limitations Frontiers in Endocrinology (2024)

This review organizes the various animal models used for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and their respectiveCompare advantages and limitationsThese models, in addition to genetically modified models, reproduce pathological conditions close to human lifestyle diseases induced by high-fat diets and are considered useful for analyzing insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities. On the other hand, there are also differences from humans, such as wound healing patterns and reproductive characteristics, highlighting the importance of model selection.

Reference: Animal models for type 1 and type 2 diabetes: advantages and limitations Frontiers in Endocrinology (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38444587/)

Key products for diet-induced obesity models

B-hGCGR mouse

This humanized mouse model, which has the mouse glucagon receptor (GCGR) gene replaced with the human counterpart, is used for evaluating glucose and lipid metabolism. It allows for the analysis of blood glucose, body weight, and hormonal fluctuations under diet-induced obesity (DIO) conditions, making it a suitable preclinical model for assessing the efficacy of drugs such as anti-GCGR antibodies. (Surveyed on May 18, 2026)

Manufacturer/Distributor	Biocytogen Boston Corp
Analysis items	Blood glucose, insulin, glucagon, lipids (TG, cholesterol), glucose tolerance (IPGTT)
Primary Endpoint	Weight change, blood glucose control, hormonal fluctuations, and improved lipid metabolism effects

Reference: Biocytogen (https://biocytogen.jp/gene-humanized-models/b-hgcgr-mice)

High Fat Diet 32

This product is a high-fat diet provided by Nippon Crea Co., Ltd., characterized by an ultra-high-fat formulation with a fat-derived energy ratio of approximately 60% (TP3T). Its pelletized form makes it easy to handle, and because long-term feeding induces visceral fat accumulation and metabolic abnormalities, it is widely used for the development of diet-induced obesity (DIO) and diabetes models. (As of May 18, 2026)

Manufacturer/Distributor	Japan Claire Co., Ltd.
Analysis items	Body weight, food intake, blood glucose, glucose tolerance (OGTT), insulin sensitivity, blood lipids, organ weight
Primary Endpoint	Weight gain, visceral fat accumulation, insulin resistance, high blood sugar, lipid metabolism disorder

Reference: CLEA Japan, Inc. (https://www.clea-japan.com/products/general_diet/item_d0080)

Summary

Diet-induced obesity models are experimental systems that reproduce human-like obesity and metabolic abnormalities using high-fat diets. They are widely used for research on obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver. When combined with humanized mice or high-fat feed, they are utilized as valuable preclinical models for pathological analysis and drug efficacy evaluation.

In non-clinical studies, the selection of a reliable disease model appropriate for the objective significantly influences the validity of the results, making proper model selection crucial. The following pages provide a list of disease models used in non-clinical studies. Please refer to them for guidance.

List of pathological models used in non-clinical studies

3 Recommended Contract Research Organizations for Non-Clinical Studies
— by Target goal and Expertise

In drug discovery, the quality and efficiency of non-clinical studies have a direct impact on clinical success rates, development costs, and overall length of time required in R&D. In recent years, there has been more demand for clinically relevant data, globally accepted reliability, and accurate early-stage screening. Thus, it is more important than ever to select the right CRO (Contract Research Organization) for strategic approach.
In this article, we highlight three CROs with proven technical capabilities, expertise, and long standing track records. These are our TOP 3 choices based on their capabilities and the specific target goals of the researchers for their non-clinical studies.

Pharmacology (Efficacy) Studies
Replicate unknown pathological models and
Discovery to clinically oriented drug evaluation

SMC Laboratories, Inc.

Reference: SMC Laboratories, Inc. official website (https://www.smccro-lab.com/jp/)

SMC Laboratories, Inc. has established a disease models using patented mouse technologies. The company has established proprietary pathological models—particularly in liver disease and fibrosis—and continues to expand their approach across a wide range of models in cancer, inflammation, and metabolic diseases.
From exploratory research to clinically oriented efficacy evaluation, SMC offers customized study designs, dosing strategies, and evaluation analysis tailored to each project. Their collaborative approachallows researchers to discuss and refine study plans together with SMC’s expert scientists.
With flexible small-scale study options and strong technical support, SMC Laboratories, Inc. is an ideal partner for start-ups, biotech ventures, and academic institutions alike.

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Safety Studies
Comprehensive Safety Evaluation for FIH Applications

Labcorp Holdings Inc.
(Labcorp Drug Development)

Reference: Labcorp Holdings Inc. official website (https://jp.labcorp.com/)

Labcorp Holdings Inc. provides a fully integrated GLP testing system aligned with international regulatory standards, including FDA, EMA, and PMDA requirements. All studies are conducted under ICH-compliant quality assurance, making it ready for data submission.
The company has extensive expertise in long-term toxicity studies such as Segment I–III reproductive and carcinogenicity studies, as well as 2-year chronic toxicity assessments.
Labcorp Holdings Inc.’s comprehensive approach enables sponsors to efficiently outsource the entire preclinical package from toxicology, toxicokinetic (TK), and safety pharmacology study design to execution. This accelerates a path to First-in-Human (FIH) trials. For most of the global drug developers, this all-in-one service structure minimizes cost, risk, and expedite the time before advancing to clinical phase.

Consult Labcorp Holdings Inc.
Discuss GLP/ICH-compliant study design for your FIH submission.

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Pharmacokinetic (PK/PD) Studies
High-Precision Bioanalysis for Clinically Predictive PK/PD Evaluation

PhoenixBio Co., Ltd.

Source: PhoenixBio Co., Ltd. Official Website (https://phoenixbio.co.jp/)

PhoenixBio Co., Ltd.offers pharmacokinetic and hepatic metabolism studies using their proprietary PXB-mouse®, a humanized-liver chimeric mouse model. This platform enables the acquisition of data with high clinical correlation in ADME, drug–to-drug interaction studies, bridging the gap between preclinical and clinical stages.
With advanced LC-MS/MS-based bioanalysis, PhoenixBio Co., Ltd. provides aseamless workflow from plasma concentration measurement and metabolite identification to quantitative validation.
The company offersan integrated evaluation analysiscovering pharmacokinetics, hepatotoxicity, and safety with flexibility to accommodate complex modalities such as oligonucleotide and middle-molecule therapeutics. For compounds where hepatic metabolism is a development bottleneck—or where quantitative, reproducible exposure data are critical—PhoenixBio Co., Ltd. delivers unmatched analytical precision and consistency.

Consult Phoenix Bio for PK/PD analysis with a clinical focus

Phoenix Bio.
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