Figure 2.

Females have higher demand at null cost for all palatable foods compared with males. Within-session behavioral-economic (BE) analyses revealed that female rats had higher demand at null cost (Q₀; panel a) for all palatable foods (low-fat palatable reward [LFP], high-fat palatable reward [HFP], and CSP [chocolate sucrose palatable reward]) compared with male rats when consumption was adjusted for kcal/kg. In contrast, female and male rats did not differ significantly on demand at null cost (Q₀; calories consumed, without adjustment for body weight; panel b) or demand elasticity (α; panel c). Data depict mean values (±SEM) from 3 BE sessions. ****P < .0001. n.s., not significant.