Consistent with findings that ALK7 or GDF3 deficiency inhibits accumulation of WAT in rodent models of diet-induced and genetic obesity (4, 5, 11), it has recently been reported that genetic variants of ACVR1C encoding ALK7 in humans are associated with reduced waist to hip ratios and protection against development of type 2 diabetes (12). The gene discussed is ACVR1C; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.