The regulation of high-fat diet fed-induced obesity by fenofibrate and exercise

Fibrates are widely used hypolipidemic drugs, and regulate the expression of a number of genes that are critical for lipid metabolism, thereby leading to obesity. To determine whether anti-obesity action of fenofibrate is effectively regulated by exercise, mice were randomly divided into four groups. After they were treated with combinations of high-fat diet, fenofibrate or exercise for 8 weeks, determinants of obesity and lipid metabolism were measured. When mice were treated with fenofibrate or exercise, mice had significantly lower body weight, adipose tissue mass and serum lipid levels than control mice fed a high-fat diet alone. When mice were simultaneously treated with fenofibrate and exercise, exercise reduced even further the inhibitory effects of fenofibrate on body weight, adipose tissue mass and serum lipid levels. Also, exercise significantly decreased fenofibrate induced adipocyte size and hepatic lipid accumulation. This study suggests that the co-treatment of fenofibrate and exercise can effectively prevent obesity caused by ingestion of high-fat diet.