Western blotting showed placental hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha subunit (HIF1A) protein to be elevated by maternal obesity (Control vs. Obese p = 0.009), and restored to control levels with exercise (Obese vs. Obese-exercised p = 0.034) (Fig. 4a). This evidence concerns the gene HIF1A and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.