Although some of these effects may be amplified by the supraphysiological doses of exogenous CNTF used in the experiments, these findings collectively indicate that CNTF exerts central and peripheral anti-obesogenic effects and that in subjects with obesity and diabetes its overproduction could counteract some of the adverse aspects of morbid obesity and metabolic syndrome by reducing energy intake, promoting energy consumption and improving insulin resistance. The gene discussed is CNTF; the disease is metabolic syndrome.