Obesity is considered as a chronic inflammatory state characterized by continued infiltration of adipose tissue by macrophages and other immune cells leading to increased or decreased adipose secretion of adipokines (such as adiponectin, leptin and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 [PAI‐1]) that may be linked to cancer development. The gene discussed is ADIPOQ; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.