FGF21 is an endocrine hormone that regulates energy homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. The mechanism of FGF21 action and the tissues responsible for these effects have been controversial, with both adipose tissues and the central nervous system having been identified as the target site mediating FGF21-dependent increases in insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure, and weight loss. Here we show that, while FGF21 signaling to adipose tissue is required for the acute insulin-sensitizing effects of FGF21, FGF21 signaling to adipose tissue is not required for its chronic effects to increase energy expenditure and lower body weight. Also, in contrast to previous studies, we found that adiponectin is dispensable for the metabolic effects of FGF21 in increasing insulin sensitivity and energy expenditure. Instead, FGF21 acutely enhances insulin sensitivity through actions on brown adipose tissue. Our data reveal that the acute and chronic effects of FGF21 can be dissociated through adipose-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 9. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 06 February 2026.
All research outputs
#5,917,771
of 34,411,289 outputs
Outputs from Cell Metabolism (Science Direct)
#2,521
of 3,806 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#73,444
of 353,638 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Cell Metabolism (Science Direct)
#46
of 67 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 34,411,289 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done well and is in the 82nd percentile: it's in the top 25% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 3,806 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 75.9. This one is in the 33rd percentile – i.e., 33% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 353,638 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done well, scoring higher than 79% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 67 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 29th percentile – i.e., 29% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
