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Summary The cross talk between adipose tissue and the heart has an increasing importance for cardiac function under physiological and pathological conditions. This study characterizes the role of fat body lipolysis for cardiac function in Drosophila melanogaster. Perturbation of the function of the key lipolytic enzyme, brummer (bmm), an ortholog of the mammalian ATGL (adipose triglyceride lipase) exclusively in the fly's fat body, protected the heart against starvation-induced dysfunction. We further provide evidence that this protection is caused by the preservation of glycerolipid stores, resulting in a starvation-resistant maintenance of energy supply and adequate cardiac ATP synthesis. Finally, we suggest that alterations of lipolysis are tightly coupled to lipogenic processes, participating in the preservation of lipid energy substrates during starvation. Thus, we identified the inhibition of adipose tissue lipolysis and subsequent energy preservation as a protective mechanism against cardiac dysfunction during catabolic stress., Graphical abstract, Highlights • A cross talk between fat body and the heart regulates cardiac function in Drosophila • Knockdown of fat-body brummer lipase prevents starvation-induced cardiac dysfunction • This involves preservation of lipid stores and maintenance of cardiac energy supply • Brummer-mediated preservation of fat body lipid stores involves lipolysis and lipogenesis, Molecular Physiology; Lipidomics; Metabolomics