IL6 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: It has previously been demonstrated that high fat diet and obesity induce a state of inflammation in the hypothalamus, as indicated by an increased expression of proinflammatory marker genes (such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and Gfap)31,32, supported by reports of increased number and ramifications of microglia33 and increased numbers of GFAP positive cells34.