Overexpression of one of the fat mass and obesity-associated protein-alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase (FTO) increased the binding affinity of pre-miR-515-5p to DGCR8 (a microprocessor complex which mediates the biogenesis of miRNAs from the primary miRNA transcript) and, consequently, miR-515-5p expression. This evidence concerns the gene DGCR8 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.