Scientists have discovered how a naturally occurring hormone can reverse obesity in mice, and the answer lies in the brain. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma found that the hormone works by sending signals to a brain region that helps control metabolism and appetite. This is the same general area targeted by widely used GLP-1 weight loss drugs. The findings were published in the journal Cell Reports .

The hormone, known as FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21), has already attracted attention as a potential target for new therapies. Drugs designed to act on this pathway are currently being tested in clinical trials for MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis), a serious form of fatty liver disease.

Lead researcher Matthew Potthoff, Ph.D., and his team focused on understanding exactly how FGF21 produces its effects.…