Fecal microbiota of male mice fed high fat diet or a weight cycling paradigm in young and old animals

The goal of this study is to examine the potential influence of weight cycling on the fecal microbiome. Male wild-type mice were purchased from Jackson laboratory after weaning and started the diet regimen at 4 weeks of age. These mice were divided by diet regimen and housed respectively. The following groups include: 1) high diet throughout lifespan (HF), 2) chow diet throughout lifespan (LF), 3) weight cycling group that cycles young and then stays on a high fat diet for the second half of their lifespan (HFY), and 4) a weight cycling group that started out on a high fat diet and then cycles in the second half of their lifespan (HFO). Weight cycling was defined as four weeks on the LF diet and then four weeks on a HF diet that repeats for at least half of their lifespan. Fecal pellets were collected from the HFO group at the end of 13 months and 14 months of age and all other groups were collected at the end of 14 months.