Unlike childhood“classical” atopic asthma, characterized by a Th2 phenotype with elevated levels ofIL-4, IL-5 and IL-13,22 obesity-associated asthma would have a Th1 lymphocyte pattern, associated toelevated levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-6.23 The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.