Patients with Down syndrome have a high incidence of metabolic syndrome, which has been related to heightened cardiometabolic risk profiles (diabetes mellitus, poor insulin sensitivity and high insulin resistance, obesity, atherosclerosis, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertension and poor aerobic capacity) (Wallen et al. 2009). This evidence concerns the gene INS and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.