For SOCS3, CISH, PIM3 (Pim-3 proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase), and KLF4 (Kruppel-like factor 4), obesity was associated with decreased methylation and increased gene expression, while for HRASLS2, obesity was associated with decreased methylation and decreased gene expression (Additional file 2: Table S5). Here, PIM3 is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.