Leptin receptor-deficient WBN/Kob-Lepr fa/fa (WKF) rats spontaneously developed chronic pancreatitis and severe diabetes with obesity. Here, we evaluated the protective effects of diet restriction and chronic exercise against fatty and inflammation-induced disorders in the vulnerable pancreas of WKF rats. Six-week-old male WKF rats were divided into obese control (Obese), diet restriction (DR), and diet restriction + exercise (DR + Ex) groups. WBN/Kob (WK) rats were used as lean control (Lean). Lean and Obese rats had free access to food, whereas food intake for DR and DR + Ex rats was restricted to 69% and 70% of the Obese level, respectively. The DR + Ex rats exercised voluntarily on a wheel ergometer daily. After six weeks, the rats were euthanized with isoflurane after overnight fasting. Obese rats exhibited diabetes, early stages of pancreatitis, diffuse pancreatic islets, and ultrastructural deteriorations in the pancreatic acinar cells, such as lipid droplet accumulation and swollen mitochondria with destroyed cristae, whereas Lean rats did not. DR rats exhibited improved glucose metabolism and serum triglyceride levels, effectively preventing inflammatory processes in the pancreas. However, DR rats exhibited no amelioration in the serum free fatty acids (FFAs) level, and limited improvements in ultrastructural deterioration in pancreatic cells. Chronic exercise combined with diet restriction (DR + Ex) improved serum FFA levels, the boundary of pancreatic islets, and the ultrastructure of subcellular organelles. These results demonstrate that diet restriction suppresses pancreatic inflammation, and further additional exercise effectively improves fatty pancreas-related deterioration by skeletal muscle activity linked through the circulatory network in WKF rats.

Background/Objectives: Optimal well-being is critical for athletic performance, yet nutritional intake among athletes is frequently inadequate. Although subjective tools such as the Hooper Index are widely used to monitor athlete condition, their relationship with routine eating behaviors remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to characterize the nutritional intake of Japanese male collegiate handball players and to identify eating behaviors associated with their subjective well-being, as measured by the Hooper Score. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 64 male collegiate handball players completed a 3-day dietary record and a web-based questionnaire assessing eating habits, training load, and the Hooper Index (sleep, muscle soreness, stress, fatigue). Associations between dietary factors and the Hooper Score were examined using partial correlation and multiple regression analyses, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Mean energy intake (30.1 ± 10.7 kcal/kg/day) and several micronutrient intakes were below recommended levels. Partial correlation analysis revealed that lower intakes of energy and multiple nutrients were significantly associated with poorer well-being (higher Hooper Scores) and more Subjective Health Complaints (SHC). Multiple regression analysis identified consistent dinner timing, greater protein intake (g/kg), more frequent consumption of nutrient-dense snacks, and less frequent consumption of unhealthy snacks as significant independent predictors of better Hooper Scores (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Suboptimal energy and nutrient intakes were common and associated with poorer subjective well-being. Specific eating behaviors, particularly meal regularity, snack quality, and adequate protein intake, emerged as independent predictors of the Hooper Score, offering practical indicators for nutritional assessment and athlete condition monitoring.