Platelet-activating factor receptor affects food intake and body weight

"Let's Move!" is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, dedicates to solving problems of obesity, which is growing in child. The life behaviors do affect obesity; however, the mechanistic insight in molecular level is still not clear. In this study, by continually monitoring mouse body weight under chow and high fat western diets as well as metabolic, physical activity and food intake behaviors assessed in a CLAMS Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System, we demonstrated that the platelet-activating factor receptor (PTAFR) contributes to modification of life behaviors. PTAFR does not affect metabolism of ingested dietary fat and carbohydrate in young animals; however, Ptafr ablation dramatically increased weight gain without affecting adipose tissue accumulation. Ptafr-/- mice possess new habits that increased food intake and decreased movement. Our studies suggest that regulation of PTAFR activity may be a novel strategy to control obesity in children or young adults.