Regulates food intake, energy expenditure and body weight in response to metabolic and toxin-induced stresses. Binds to its receptor, GFRAL, and activates GFRAL-expressing neurons localized in the area postrema and nucleus tractus solitarius of the brainstem. It then triggers the activation of neurons localized within the parabrachial nucleus and central amygdala, which constitutes part of the 'emergency circuit' that shapes feeding responses to stressful conditions (PubMed:28846097). On hepatocytes, inhibits growth hormone signaling (By similarity). Homodimer; disulfide-linked (By similarity). Interacts with GFRAL; ligand of GFRAL which mediates GDF15 internalization and cellular signaling through interaction with RET (By similarity). Detected in plasma (at protein level). Expression is up-regulated by obesity. Belongs to the TGF-beta family.