From fat fruit fly to human obesity

•We reviewed recent Drosophila models of human obesity.•We highlight the fruit fly methods in the studying of energy homeostasis.•The use of Drosophila screens can identify novel obese-related genes and therapeutics.•Drosophila provide an excellent model to study feeding behavior and energy balance.

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease that has become a global problem. Although a tremendous amount of effort has been spent to prevent and treat obesity, its etiology is still largely unknown and there are not yet sufficient strategies to control obesity. Recently, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has become a useful model for studying metabolic homeostasis and obesity related disorders. The goal of this mini-review is to summarize the recent achievements of Drosophila models and to highlight the experimental protocols used in studying feeding behavior and energy homeostasis in the fly. The Drosophila models provide useful tools to understand obesity pathogenesis and to develop novel therapeutics.