Despite receptor specificity significantly altered from FGF19, FGF19-7 was equal to or better than wild type FGF19 at increasing glucose uptake into adipocytes in vitro and at reducing body weight, plasma insulin, glucose, and TG levels, and at improving glucose disposal in both diet induced obesity and ob/ob mice models. This evidence concerns the gene FGF19 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.