Introduction: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) plays an important role in lipid and glucose metabolism. FGF21 is affected by diet and exercise. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of swimming training on FGF21 levels and glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet induced obese rats (OB). Method: Male Wistar were divided into 3 groups: healthy normal control (NC), (OB) and OB with endurance swimming training (OB+TR). HFD and HFD+TR groups consumed high-fat food for 7 weeks before the main protocol. In continuation of the main research protocol for 12 weeks, the control group continued to receive normal rodent pellet diet two HFD groups received highfat food as before. Results: HFD resulted in increasing triglyceride, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acid, LDL, insulin resistance, liver triglyceride, serum and liver FGF21. Also, HDF increased Acc and Fans gene expression and a decreased the expression of Cpt1α gene compared to CON (p<0.05). Furthermore, swimming in HFD significantly suppressed the increase in aforementioned factors and increased Cpt1α gene compared to HFD group (p<0.05). Conclusion: It seems that swimming training by reducing FGF21 plays a role in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism.
