NAFLD in humans is often associated with obesity and insulin resistance, and these metabolic derangements were more closely reflected in the HFD-group. Accordingly, only HFD-fed rats became obese and even though the cumulative energy intake in this group was transiently higher than Control animals at week 8, differences in energy intake did no longer account for the HFD-induced obesity after 16 weeks. Circulating leptin levels were also significantly elevated only in HFD-fed rats, reflecting the increase in adipose tissue depot size within this group. Fasting hyperglycemia was present in all groups at study termination, indicating disturbances in glucose metabolism, even though fasting insulin levels remained similar between groups. These disturbances were further corroborated by the increased levels of hepatic TG and decreased/unaltered hepatic glycogen observed in both NASH-, HFD- and HFr-fed rats, indicative of selective insulin resistance .