This increase in plasma LPS induced bya high-fat diet suggests metabolic endotoxaemia, which is considered to trigger thedevelopment of obesity, inflammation, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes andatherosclerosis via activation of the CD14/Toll-like receptor 4 complex by LPS and/or fattyacids. This evidence concerns the gene TLR4 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.