Inhibition of SCD activity has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, liver steatosis and metabolic syndrome [21]; however, the ability of SCD1 to prevent SFA-induced apoptosis of cardiac myocytes suggests that SCD1 in the heart is a potential target that should be activated, at least in the short term, for the prevention of apoptosis. This evidence concerns the gene SCD and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.