Consistent with previous work (Vernon et al., 2002; Denis et al., 2003), the chow- and HE-fed rat dams in this study appear to increase their postpartum caloric intake soon after parturition and at a similar rate, yet we postulate that exaggerated or sustained leptin resistance in the HE-fed dams creates a perceived state of negative energy balance, culminating in a hyper-mobilization of fat stores akin to a dairy cow. The gene discussed is LEP; the disease is hereditary elliptocytosis.