Fig 1. Food consumption during food insecurity protocol.
Mice exposed to food insecurity received unpredictable, variable amounts of food for four days (Insecurity) followed by unlimited access to food for three days (Recovery). This pattern was repeated for four weeks. Control mice had unlimited access to food. Data show daily consumption per mouse (mean +/-SEM), by group. Baseline food consumption, prior to food insecurity exposure, did not differ by group (T-test: T = -0.58, df = 14, p = 0.57). During food insecurity and recovery, food consumption differed by group and time with mice exposed to food insecurity eating less than controls during food insecurity exposure and more during recovery (two-way ANOVA: group x time interaction: F7,93 = 10.95, P < 0.01).