According to two cross-sectional studies comparing obese adolescents with and without T2DM matched for BMI, sex, and age, the former demonstrate higher levels of the hepatokines fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and fetuin-A, as well as of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta [22, 23]. Here, TNF is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.