Evidence mapPaperPMID 40231439Full record

ArticleObesity (Silver Spring, Md.)2025

Unraveling the relationship between head circumference and MC4R deficiency from infancy to adulthood: a case-control study.

Eline E P L van der Walle, Cornelis J de Groot, Lotte Kleinendorst, Hester de Klerk, Mila S Welling, Ozair Abawi, Renate E H Meeusen, Mariëtte R Boon, Elisabeth F C van Rossum, Mieke M van Haelst and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Eline E P L van der WalleObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7789-7627
Cornelis J de GrootObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Lotte KleinendorstCenter of Expertise for Genetic Obesity, Erasmus Medical Center and Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Hester de KlerkObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mila S WellingObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9261-5541
Ozair AbawiObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1343-6562
Renate E H MeeusenObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mariëtte R BoonObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Elisabeth F C van RossumObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0120-4913
Mieke M van HaelstCenter of Expertise for Genetic Obesity, Erasmus Medical Center and Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Erica L T van den AkkerObesity Center Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG), Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate head circumference (HC) in patients with melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) deficiency, the most common cause of monogenetic obesity.

methodsPatients with (likely) pathogenic MC4R variants were included. HC, height, and weight were measured, and BMI and standard deviation score (SDS) were calculated. HC SDS was compared to the Dutch reference population. Children were matched 1:1 to a control group with common obesity.

resultsChildren with MC4R deficiency (n = 63, mean age, 10.32 years) had significantly larger HC (mean, +1.73 SDS) compared to the reference population (0 SDS; p < 0.001) and controls (+1.22 SDS; p = 0.009). In adults (n = 13), HC (median, + 0.86 SDS) did not differ from the reference population (0 SDS; p = 0.152). Macrocephaly (HC ≥ 2 SDS) was present in 43%, 25%, and 23% of pediatric patients with MC4R deficiency, controls, and adult patients, respectively. Children with MC4R deficiency were taller than controls (+1.00 SDS vs. +0.42 SDS; p = 0.016), with similar BMI (+3.99 SDS vs. +3.75 SDS; p = 0.157). HC SDS was associated with height SDS (R

conclusionsMacrocephaly is a common feature of patients with MC4R deficiency. We recommend measuring HC in patients suspected for genetic obesity, as it can be a clue for MC4R deficiency.

Indexed as

HeadMegalencephalyObesityReceptor, Melanocortin, Type 4AdolescentAdultBody HeightBody Mass IndexCase-Control StudiesChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMaleNetherlandsMC4R protein, humanReceptor, Melanocortin, Type 4

Identifiers

PMID40231439
PMCPMC12015652

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.