The mechanisms of action by which FTO polymorphisms increase abdominal obesity in childhood and adolescence could be that FTO polymorphisms lead to aberrant expression of the FTO gene, which in turn disturbs the methylation status of FTO-targeted mRNAs, leading to increased food intake and adipogenesis and decreased energy expenditure and thermogenesis, ultimately causing abdominal obesity (Figure 2). The gene discussed is FTO; the disease is Abdominal obesity.