In addition to quantifying intra-abdominal fat mass in the post-partum period, the aim was also to assay the relative expression levels of a panel of key candidate genes, including those involved in the inflammatory adipose response (Il1, Il6, Tnfa, Il10), oxidative stress response (Hmox1, Xo, NfkB, Gp91phox), lipoxygenase activity (Alox12, Alox15), macrophage infiltration (Mcp1, Cd68) and master transcriptional regulators thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity (Tgfb, Tnfa, Nrf2). Here, TNF is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.