Effects of a 24 hour fast were studied in 21 obese children aged 7 to 14 and in 8 controls. Mean blood glucose (BG) during fast dropped more in controls (0.88 to 0.54 g/l) than in obese (0.90 to 0.63 g/l) Plasma cortisol changes were similar in the 2 groups, FFA increased (p less than 0.01) in the 2 groups, but the 24 hour mean level was higher in controls (4.0 mEq/l) than in obese (2.06 mEq/l). At the end of the fast, a ketonuria was present in all obese children except 2. Serum alanine dropped similarly in obese (28 to 24 muM p. cent ml) and in controls (30 to 22 muM p. cent ml). All obese exhibited at the end of the fast a significant rise (p less than 0.01) of branched chain aminoacids, not observed in controls. Responses to glucagon (0.03 mg/kg I.M.) were studied before and after fast. At time 0, BG response was higher and more prolonged in obese in spite of hyperinsulinism. At time 24 hours, BG raised from 0.50 to 0.74 g/1 and insulin from 8 to 35 muU/ml in controls, while in obese BG raised from 0.63 to 1.06 g/l and insulin from 25 to 88 muU/ml. Concomitant hyperinsulinsim and biological criteria of hypoinsulinism demonstrated in obese children the peripheral resistance to insulin. The contrast between a normal degree of protein gluconeogenesis and a reduced rate of fat mobilization during fast may be a major biological feature of obesity in childhood.