ADIPOQ and morbid obesity: Previous studies have focused on candidate genes or pathway driven approaches in the attempt to providing insight into the biology of MHO.6 In addition, a number of hypotheses have been evaluated in animal models.7 Insights gained from these studies include the observation that adiponectin transgenic and leptin deficient ob/ob mice had higher serum adiponectin level and normal insulin sensitivity in the presence of morbid obesity compared to their ob/ob littermate.