Cevoglitazar is a dual agonist for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha and -gamma subtypes. Cevoglitazar was as effective as pioglitazone at improving glucose tolerance, normalizes intramyocellular lipids and reduces body weight gain and adiposity, independent of food intake. Metabolic profiling showed that in the muscle cevoglitazar improves the lipid profile via both PPARα‐ and PPARγ‐mediated mechanisms. Cevoglitazar only induced small changes to the lipid composition of visceral fat. In subcutaneous fat, however, cevoglitazar induced changes similar to those observed with fenofibrate suggesting export of fatty acids from this depot.