Fig. 1.

a Body mass measurements during the 6-week study protocol. Body mass of rats measured before starting respective diets (0 week) was not different between groups (data not shown) and was increased in all groups at week 4, prior to air or E-IH exposure. At week 6, after 14 days of E-IH exposure, only air rats had a further increase in body mass. b Epididymal fat pad mass following air or E-IH treatment in chow and HFD groups. Diminished weight gain in E-IH rats was accompanied by decreased adiposity in each feeding protocol. Means ± SEM. n = 14–23; ^a p < 0.05 vs. chow + air; ^b p < 0.05 vs. HFD + air; ^c p < 0.05 vs. chow + E-IH.