Activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in adipose tissue, accumulation of carcass fat, and serum triglyceride have been determined in meal-fed (MF) and ad libitum-fed (AD) rats. At each feeding frequency, the animals received diets providing total fat as 15% or 30% of calories and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as 2.5% or 11% of calories. The food intake of the MF rats was 75% of that consumed by the AD rats but MF rat utilized their food more efficiently, as evidenced by weight gain per 100 Kcal consumed. Meal feeding, as contrasted to ad libitum feeding, resulted in greater activities of both LPL and HSL. This suggested a higher turnover of fat in the adipose tissue of MF rats. In AD rats, body fat was significantly correlated with LPL and the ratio of LPL/HSL. Meal feeding significantly increased the ratio of LPL/HSL, indicating a greater capacity for energy storage and fat deposition in the MF rat. However, at the limited caloric intake, MF rats failed to realize this potential; there was no significant difference in percentage of body fat at the two feeding frequencies. Body fat deposition was greater in rats fed the 30% fat diet, as compared with the 15% diet, regardless of the rate of food ingestion. This was coupled with a higher ratio of LPL/HSL. The significant correlation of serum triglycerides with body fat and with the ratio of LPL/HSL in AD rats suggests that LPL activity and fat deposition may be controlled by the concentration of circulating triglycerides. Both serum triglycerides and adipose LPL activity were significantly reduced when the diet contained high levels of PUFA. The percentage of body fat was also lower in animals whose intake of PUFA was high.