Effect of repeated food restriction-refeeding on growth rate and weight.

The effect of repeated food restriction-refeeding was investigated in male Wistar rats. After the first food restriction, rats grew faster than did ad libitum-fed animals. The extent of compensatory growth was less with each subsequent restriction-release episode. Food intake determinations gave similar results: the extent of overeating decreased with each successive restriction. Studies on the effects of the first restriction-refeeding at various sizes (ages) indicate that a considerable portion of the decrease in compensatory growth with increasing number of food restriction-refeeding is due to increasing size (age). However, some of the decreased response can be directly attributed to the repetition of food restriction.