High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Reduces Fertility and Offspring Activity via Maternal Effects in Drosophila Melanogaster

Overview

Obesity is a global epidemic, affecting 40% of the population in the United States. Diet-induced obesity, the most common form of obesity, is associated with numerous health risks, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, the effect of diet-induced obesity on fertility and offspring, particularly when offspring are raised in normal dietary conditions, is not well understood. To investigate how diet-induced obesity influences fertility and offspring outcomes, Drosophila melanogaster was used as a model organism. A high-fat diet (HFD) resulted in significant weight gain and reduced activity. When allowed to mate, HFD flies produced fewer larvae compared to normal-fat diet (NFD) controls. Moreover, offspring of HFD parents showed decreased activity similar to that of their parents. To assess whether these effects were sex-specific, reciprocal crosses were performed. Progeny of HFD females and NFD males showed lower population size and reduced activity compared to the progeny of NFD females and HFD males, suggesting that these effects are predominantly transmitted maternally. These findings demonstrate that diet-induced obesity in Drosophila reduces female fertility and impairs offspring activity, and highlight the importance of a mother’s metabolic state in intergenerational health outcomes.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Zoology (Senior Division) · Entry S-20-15

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