The present study demonstrates that HFD induced obesity and age alter expression of genes in involved in the regulation of telomeres, namely, Terf2, Pot1b, and mTert. However, limitations to this study include that our study only examined shelterin components and telomerase at the mRNA level, rather than at the protein level. This evidence concerns the gene TERF2 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.