Accordingly, drugs that perturb IPMK signaling actions on major metabolic signaling targets, such as Akt, mTOR, and AMPK, may have therapeutic applications for metabolic syndromes (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes) and related eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa. The gene discussed is IPMK; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.