This hypothesis is consistent with clinical findings that weight change is a predictor of incidence of metabolic syndrome and remission of insulin resistance [36], and is further attested by our findings that in 16-week-old offspring, the weight gain is closely related to the glucose intolerance, low insulin secretory capacity and high levels of serum lipids (Figs 4 and 5), which are the properties of metabolic syndrome [37]. This evidence concerns the gene INS and metabolic syndrome.