Compounds having the general structure II are provided: A is selected from the group consisting of C or CH and X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of CH2, N, C═O, C═S, (CR6R7)n, S═O, SO2, O, NR9, S, C(═O)—(CR6R7)n, and C(═S)—(CR6R7)n where n is 1, 2, or 3. W is selected from the group consisting of and Z1, Z2, and Z3 are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted carbon and nitrogen. L is selected from the group consisting of N, O, S, S═O, SO2, C(O), NC(O), NC(S), OC(O), OC(S), C(NR10), C(NOR10), and a covalent bond. Compounds of formula II are agonists of the melanocortin-4 receptor (“MC4-R”) and therefore may have useful properties for controlling diseases related to MC4-R action in humans, such as obesity and type II diabetes.