The present invention is directed to new genetic variants or polymorphisms at the perilipin locus (PLIN) including PLIN1: 6209T (allele 1) >C (allele 2); PLIN3 10171 (allele 1) A >T (allele 2); PLIN4: 11482G (allele 1) >A (allele 2); PLIN5: 13041A (allele 1) >G (allele 2) and PLIN6: 14995A (allele 1) >T (allele 2), and their use in diagnostic and prognostic applications for obesity and and obesity-related diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
