They identified five CpG sites, and three of the five CpG sites in the hypoxia-inducible factor 3 subunit alpha (HIF-3α) gene presented increased methylation, which is linked to increased BMI.164 In another study, the researchers analysed the relationship between obesity and DNA methylation in Chinese children. Here, HIF3A is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.