In order to test whether long‐term exposure to the obesity‐associated intrauterine environment might affect MMP15, we quantified MMP15 mRNA and protein levels in first trimester placental tissue from lean (BMI < 25, GW 5‐11, n = 24) vs obese women (BMI ≥ 30, GW 5‐10, n = 18). Here, MMP15 is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.