Obesity-induced cellular dysfunction activates a diverse range of signaling pathways, such as the activation of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins, JNK, IKK, and ERK, and each pathway converges on and then inhibits the insulin signaling pathway and augments an inflammatory response within metabolic tissues13. This evidence concerns the gene MAPK8 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.