The mechanisms by which BMI-associated SNPs confer a greater risk of obesity are not fully elucidated, but two SNPs included in our genetic risk score for BMI, FTO and MC4R, have been linked to dysregulation of appetite and loss of control over eating [29–32], and preferences towards energy-dense [33], high-fat foods [23, 34]. Here, MC4R is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.