The present data as well as those from studies that have implicated the genomic region studied here in the variation of plasma levels of sex-hormone binding globulin [46], age at menopause [47] and obesity [48] (Fig. 4) converge on the idea that this region may host important genes involved in energy homeostasis and tumorigenesis. The gene discussed is SHBG; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.