Your body makes a hormone called FGF-21 when under stress, and it helps control how sensitive you are to insulin and how much belly fat you store — but how and how long it’s turned on really matters.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (4)
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Comparative efficacy of THR-β agonists, FGF-21 analogues, GLP-1R agonists, GLP-1-based polyagonists, and Pan-PPAR agonists for MASLD: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
The study looks at drugs that work like FGF-21 and finds they improve liver fat and metabolic health, which fits with FGF-21 helping control metabolism. But it doesn’t test how or when the body naturally turns it on.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 increases insulin sensitivity through specific expansion of subcutaneous fat
The study shows that FGF-21 helps the body stay sensitive to insulin by helping good fat grow under the skin, which supports the idea that it helps control metabolism when the body is under stress from overeating.
The study shows that people with insulin resistance have higher levels of a hormone called FGF-21, which supports the idea that it plays a role in how the body handles blood sugar and responds to metabolic stress.
The study shows that regular strength training lowers levels of a hormone called FGF-21 and improves blood sugar control in older men, which supports the idea that this hormone responds to physical stress and helps regulate metabolism.
Contradicting (0)
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Gold Standard Evidence Needed
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