The mean serum adiponectin level was significantly lower in the obese individuals compared to the normal-weight study participants (7.06 ng/ml vs 14.57 ng/ml, P = 0.0004, Fig. 1a), and the difference concerned both “healthy” obese (P = 0.0004) and these who suffered from at least one obesity-related complication (P < 0.0001). Here, ADIPOQ is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.