SGIP1 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Elevated levels of SGIP1 mRNA in the hypothalamus of the Israeli sand rat (Psammomys obesus) correlate with obesity of the animals held in captivity (Trevaskis et al., 2005), and genetic variations within the SGIP1 gene are associated with energy balance disturbances in humans (Cummings et al., 2012).