Early Sucrose Exposure Affects Adult Motivation and Weight Gain
Author Information
Author(s): Frazier Cristianne R. M., Mason Peggy, Zhuang Xiaoxi, Beeler Jeff A.
Primary Institution: University of Chicago
Hypothesis
Does dietary experience during childhood and adolescence affect adult obesity risk?
Conclusion
Early exposure to sucrose reduces motivation to seek it but leads to greater weight gain in adulthood when high-sugar foods are readily available.
Supporting Evidence
- Unlimited access to sucrose early in life reduced motivation to acquire sucrose in adulthood.
- Mice exposed to sucrose gained more weight when high-sugar foods were freely available.
- Early sucrose exposure did not affect glucose tolerance in adulthood.
- Behavioral differences were observed only under conditions where work was required to obtain food.
Takeaway
If baby mice eat a lot of sugar, they might not want to work for it when they grow up, but they will gain more weight when they can eat sugary foods easily.
Methodology
Mice were given unlimited or no access to sucrose after weaning, and their behavior and weight gain were measured in adulthood.
Limitations
The study was conducted on mice, which may not fully represent human dietary behaviors.
Participant Demographics
C57BL/6 mice, both male and female, were used in the study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website