Therefore, the aims of this study were to: (i) identify informative (more common) polymorphisms in both black and white SA populations; (ii) investigate associations between these IL-6 polymorphisms and obesity and dyslipidaemia; and (iii) explore interactions between these IL-6 polymorphisms and dietary fat intake on obesity and serum lipids in black and white South African (SA) women. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.