Limiting the analysis to subjects with data on leptin (n = 658) and adiponectin (n = 662) revealed in adjusted models that higher levels of adiponectin were significantly associated with lower fasting Adipo-IR (β = − 0.03, p < 0.0001) and post-prandial Adipo-IR (β = − 0.04, p < 0.0001), while the degree of obesity remained a significant predictor of adipose insulin resistance in both models. This evidence concerns the gene ADIPOQ and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.