We have characterized the wide range of pathophysiological features of the cardio-metabolic syndrome and genome-wide gene expression patterns that are altered in rats of the BN.GK-Nidd/gk1 congenic strain designed to carry alleles of the spontaneously diabetic (type 2) GK rat across diabetes and obesity QTLs mapped to RNO1. The gene discussed is GK; the disease is obesity disorder.