Some new weight-loss drugs that work on two hormone receptors at once seem to help people lose a lot of weight and also improve liver health in those with fatty liver disease, based on early studies.

A type of diabetes drug called GLP-1 agonists might help people with fatty liver disease by reducing liver fat, improving blood sugar, and helping with weight loss—based on early study results.

In obese mice, the drug G49 reduces weight and activates fat-burning tissue only when both the glucagon and GLP-1 receptors are active. Blocking either one reduces its effect, but blocking both stops it entirely.

In obese mice undergoing weight loss, drugs that activate GLP-1 receptors cause a larger decrease in liver size compared to muscle size, suggesting these drugs primarily affect how the liver processes energy.

Blocking the glucagon signal in people with type 2 diabetes might cause weight gain, more fat in the liver, and higher blood fat levels — suggesting this hormone helps control how the body uses energy and fat.

Blocking the hormone glucagon with drugs might actually make things worse for people — causing weight gain, higher blood pressure, and more liver fat.