Natural hormone may reduce obesity without cutting calories, scientists say

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma discovered a hormone called FGF21 that may reduce obesity in mice by increasing metabolic rate without calorie restriction. The study, published in Cell Reports, shows FGF21 targets the hindbrain to regulate metabolism, similar to GLP-1 drugs, but with distinct mechanisms. However, experts caution that results in mice may not translate directly to humans due to differences in FGF21 behavior.