Increased CRP levels have beside obesity also been associated with other aspects of metabolic syndrome in humans such as hyperglycemia and insulin resistance [19, 46] Although no effect of diabetes was observed on CRP levels in the present model, these are relevant considerations when evaluating the predictive value of CRP, specifically in relation to atherosclerosis in this model. Here, CRP is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.