However, animal studies have shown that prenatal overnutrition may be involved in the regulation of appetitive structures, mainly the hypothalamic neural network,44,45 as well as epigenetic changes in leptin gene expression in offspring, which may influence the offspring’s appetite and the development of metabolic diseases.46 Thus, infant appetite is potentially a mediator on the causal pathway from prenatal diet to infant growth. The gene discussed is LEP; the disease is metabolic disease.