FIGURE 1: Obesity is at the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The development of obesity is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The study of monogenic obesity has led the discovery of several obesity susceptibility genes such as Proopimelanocortin (POMC), Melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) or Leptin (LEP) among others. However, diverse environmental factors such as the diet, combined with genetic variations, also influence energy balance control.