The effect of multiple cycles of starvation-refeeding on rat body weight and on plasma lipid concentration was studied. After 1 cycle of starvation-refeeding, the rat body weight did not change significantly; however the postprandial plasma triacylglycerol concentration decreased approximately 2-fold as compared to rats fed ad libitum. After 8 cycles of starvation-refeeding, both rat body weight and plasma triacylglycerols concentration decreased. In contrast, the plasma cholesterol (both total and HDL cholesterol) concentration did not change appreciably either after 1 or 8 cycles of starvation-refeeding as compared to control. Although the postprandial plasma triacylglycerol concentration decreased in both groups (i.e. after 1 and 8 cycles of starvation-refeeding), this phenomenon appears to last longer after 8 cycles of starvation-refeeding. The epididymal white adipose tissue weight decreased after both 1 and 8 cycles of starvation-refeeding. After 1 cycle of starvation-refeeding followed by 3, 6 and 9 days of ad libitum feeding, the epididymal white adipose tissue weight increased progressively, reaching the control value at day 9. In contrast, after 8 cycles of starvation-refeeding followed by 9 days of ad libitum feeding, the epididymal white adipose tissue weight did not reach the control value. These results suggest that dieting is associated with body and adipose tissue weight loss as well as with the decrease of plasma triacylglycerol concentration. Furthermore, our results suggest that better maintenance of low adipose tissue weight and low plasma triacylglycerol concentration may be achieved after multiple cycles of starvation-refeeding.