Objective To establish a high-fat-diet-induced heart failure model in Drosophila melanogaster.Methods Wild-type Drosophila w1118 was chosen as the experimental subject. The triglyceride level was examined in Drosophila fed with different concentrations of coconut oil (0%, 7. 5%, 15%, 30%). In the follow-up experiment, a high-fat diet containing 30% coconut oil was used for the experimental group, in contrast to a non-fat diet (0% coconut oil) for a control group. Using Drosophila negative geotaxis assay, the physical activity was evaluated. The pulse was recorded for 30 s and analyzed. Adult heart physiological parameters, including heart period, systolic and diastolic diameters, as well as fractional shortening, were obtained. The RNA expression of metabolism-related genes was measured by real-time PCR. Results The triglyceride content in high-fat-diet-fed Drosophila increased gradually with the concentration of coconut oil ( P < 0. 05). High-fat-diet-fed Drosophila showed dramatically decreased physical activity ( P < 0. 001), as determined using the negative geotaxis assay, and compromised adult physiological heart function,characterized by a decreased heart period and fractional shortening ( P < 0. 05). Metabolism-related genes, including fa2h, CG6277, CG3699, CG9914, and lip2, were downregulated in high-fat-diet-fed Drosophila compared with the levels in those with a non-fat diet. Conclusion The high-fat diet compromises physical activity and adult heart physiological function, revealing that a high-fat-diet-induced Drosophila heart failure model is successfully established here.