To screen for mutations in the coding region of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene and to assess the association between the rs17782313 variant near MC4R with childhood obesity and eating behavior.
MC4R polymorphism rs17782313 may contribute to childhood obesity, affecting enjoyment of food, satiety responsiveness, and possibly eating in the absence of hunger.
We showed that MC4R rs17782313 and FTO rs9939609 were positively associated with zBMI, with weak and very weak effects, respectively, suggesting a very scarce contribution to childhood obesity.