Abstract: People who are on chronic steroids are known to have depressed levels of ACTH and thus should also have decreased levels of ?-MSH. Recent data show that people with altered Melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptors (receptor for ?-MSH) have strongly associated rates (100%) of Binge Eating Disorder diagnosable of DSM IV criteria. All patients who are on steroids and have low levels of ACTH, and thus low levels of ?-MSH, could appear phenotypically identical to those with altered Melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4R). Patients with iatrogenically induced ?-MSH deficiencies (including patients on chronic steroid therapy) could be expected to respond to exogenous ?-MSH or MC4R agonist supplementation. Exogenous ?-MSH or MC4R agonist treatment should also decrease serum leptin levels; therefore, the present invention provides a method of decreasing steroid induced weight gain by employing ?-MSH agonists.