To study how the dietary status influenced the mRNA expression of Kctd15 and Tfap2b in the hypothalamus, mice were assigned to different food restrictions; 1) fed normal chow-, 2) fed normal chow, but food-deprived for 24 h- and 3) fed high fat diet to induce obesity before analyses. The gene discussed is TFAP2B; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.