LEP and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Bilateral lesions of the VMH cause hypherphagia and obesity, implying an important role for this region of the hypothalamus in regulating food intake and energy metabolism.8 Leptin, a polypeptide produced by adipocytes, targets neurons in the ARC; leptin positively regulates proopiomelanocortin neurons, which project to the VMH.