Food intake and meal pattern in response to hyperosmotic-induced dehydration in obese and lean Zucker rats

•Dehydration induces anorexia, but obese Zucker rats are hyperphagic despite neurochemical signs of dehydration.•Meal size in obese Zucker rats is 200% larger than in lean rats during normal hydration.•After dehydration, meal size is 300% larger in obese than in lean Zucker rats.•Data suggest that obesity may protect feeding from chronic dehydration.