As a repressor of the p38/MAPK pathway, TOB1 can suppress p38/MAPK signaling by decreasing phosphorylation of p38 and ATF2 (Sun et al., 2013; Ng et al., 2017); p38/MAPK acts as an enhancer of adipogenesis contributes to obesity (Patel et al., 2003). Here, ATF2 is linked to obesity disorder.