ADIPOQ and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Also, a negative correlation was found between adiponectin and triglycerides/HDLc ratio (p < 0.001, r = −0.27), supporting the hypothesis that the type (particularly abdominal) and the degree of obesity is accompanied by increasing leptin and decreased adiponectin levels, both adipokines being secreted by the adipose tissue.