When calculating the individual association of each SNP with HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol, associations were identified for three, three, five and four SNPs, respectively, in the children with obesity, whereas associations were identified for four, four, four and six SNPs, respectively, in the control population (Fig. 1, ESM Figs 1–3). Here, INS is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.