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Abstract
Advances in molecular and neural mechanisms of energy homeostasis have outpaced the behavioral tools needed to fully interpret their functional effects. Traditional measures of cumulative food intake fail to capture the complexity of ingestive behavior, underscoring the need for validated meal pattern analysis methods. This work develops and standardizes approaches for defining and analyzing meal patterns in mice, addressing long‑standing challenges in inter‑laboratory comparison. These tools are then applied to investigate how the central melanocortin system regulates feeding behavior. Analysis of neuronal POMC‑deficient mice reveals distinct meal pattern alterations underlying hyperphagia and examines their emergence during development. Together, this research links molecular mechanisms to detailed behavioral outcomes, improving the study of feeding regulation and energy balance.