Based on these results, lactoferrin in a diet-induced model of obesity, does not reduce weight gain or % fat mass better than casein over a prolonged period of time in male C57BL/6 J mice during adolescence to adulthood, however it may be useful as a means of further exploration into corticosterone and leptin pathways affecting hypothalamic gene expression without the confounding effects of body weight change. The gene discussed is LEP; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.