Although the magnitude of the effect in the whole sample was lower that that reported for the general population [1], in this study undertaken in elderly subjects we have found that the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism was significantly associated with higher BMI, waist circumference and obesity prevalence, our results coinciding with previous investigations [1], [5]–[11]. The gene discussed is FTO; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.