However, as the adipose tissue of people with obesity secretes higher amounts of inflammatory molecules (e.g., CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, adiponectin and leptin) than the adipose tissue of lean individuals20, BMI has been reported to be a major mediator of the inflammation-depression relationship, leading to substantial variability in the conclusions across studies regarding the relationship between depression and inflammatory factors21, 22, 23. This evidence concerns the gene LEP and major depressive disorder.