Aggregated AGEs can activate the JNK, Iκ-B kinase (IKK), NF-κB, and TNF-α pathways to trigger hypothalamic insulin and leptin resistance, resulting in hypothalamic dysfunction, imbalanced energy control, and subsequently elevated food consumption and body weight with obesity and metabolic syndromes78. Here, TNF is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.