In the only previous study to investigate parental obesity in relation to a range of outcomes associated with increased risk of CVD in offspring in mid-life, conducted in the USA, parental obesity was positively associated with CRP but not BP or diabetes.10 This study is consistent with our finding that the outcome most strongly associated with parental BMI before adjustment for offspring adiposity was CRP, suggesting an influence of obesity on low-grade inflammation. This evidence concerns the gene CRP and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.