Compared to 15 mildly obese (mean BMI: 30.5 ± 2.7 kg/m2) nondiabetic subjects, the morbidly obese subjects were significantly younger, more likely to be female and had significantly higher BMI, waist circumference and levels of insulin, triglyceride and LDL-C, presumably reflecting their greater level of obesity and associated metabolic derangements (Table 1). The gene discussed is INS; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.