ABSTRACT
I n t ro d u c t i o n Obesity is a major worldwide health problem that is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Previous studies indicated that obesity is a major risk factor for a variety of lifestyle-related diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and arteriosclerosis (1-3). Obesity is a metabolic disorder resulting from disequilibrium between energy uptake and expenditure. Although both diacylglycerol (DAG) oil and triacylglycerol (TAG) oil have similar energy values and absorption rates (4), studies (Chapter 4) showed that the ingestion of DAG oil activates lipid metabolism in the small intestine and liver, and enhances whole-body energy expenditures (5,6). The studies discussed in this chapter focus only on the effects on body fat accumulation as the result of the long-term consumption of DAG oil in experimental animal models. Other physiological effects are discussed in other chapters.
