Considerable effort is currently being devoted to understanding the physiological and pharmacological action of the endocrine fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). These three proteins (FGF15/19, FGF21 and FGF23) act in a tissue-specific manner through a membrane-complex consisting of an FGF-receptor and α/βKlotho. FGF15/19 is produced in the intestine and regulates postprandial liver metabolism and gallbladder filling. FGF21 is largely liver-derived and co-ordinates adaptive changes in response to nutritional and physiological stresses. FGF23 signals from the bone to the kidney to maintain phosphate homeostasis. In pharmacological settings, FGF15/19, FGF21, and the prototypical FGF1, potentially represent novel treatments for obesity and diabetes. This review summarises the recent advances in our understanding of the biology of these important metabolic regulators.