IL-6 mediated significantly 12 % [4 %–47 %] (p-valueFDR = 0.012) of the association between higher levels of chronic emotional stress and CVD, 17 % [7 %–45 %] with diabetes (p-valueFDR<0.001), 18 % [8 %–51 %] with hypertension (p-valueFDR<0.001), and 29 % [14 %–71 %] with obesity (p-valueFDR = 0.005) (Fig. 4a). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.