CRH and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Within the hypothalamus, the anorexigenic peptides pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC, a precursor of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and oxytocin (OXY) play an important role in the control of food intake and energy balance, and dysregulation of these peptides contributes to the obesity.