CRP and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: [10] This study concluded that a critical level of adiposity may be required for significant inflammation, hepcidin elevation and iron disturbances to occur which was partially supported by this study. [10] In our subset of participants with a higher degree of obesity (BMI >35.0 kg/m2), mean hepcidin concentration remained in the lower normal range despite significantly greater CRP compared to those with lower BMI.