If weight loss is important to you and you’re struggling to meet your goals, you may have considered buzzy peptide injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. But these aren’t the only effective peptides for weight loss that can help you shed stubborn pounds.
In fact, weight loss experts have been prescribing a wide range of peptides for years—and for good reason. ”Studies have linked peptide therapy to 3 to 12 percent more weight loss than that lost with diet and exercise alone,” says gastroenterologist Ibrahim Hanouneh, M.D.
Peptides and Peptide Therapy
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that function as hormones or enzymes (1). These amino acids help different systems in your body communicate, like telling your cells to divide and multiply, or regulating your endocrine, nervous, and immune systems (2).
“Peptides are used for almost any medical issue,” says regenerative medicine specialist Neil Paulvin, D.O. “Most commonly [it’s used for] inflammation, sports recovery, gut health, brain health and—of course—weight loss.”
About the Experts:
Dr. Ibrahim Hanouneh, M.D., is a gastroenterologist, and co-author of Regenerative Health, with a specialization in weight management, gut health, and liver disease.
Dr. Neil Paulvin, D.O., is a longevity expert and regenerative medicine specialist. He specializes in autoimmune and inflammation-based conditions, gut health, and hormone imbalances.
Peptides for Weight Loss
Many peptides support weight loss—but not all of them are created equally (or safely). Recently, the FDA banned 17 popular peptides due to safety concerns, seven of which were used to support weight loss.
Below are the safest and most effective peptides for weight loss, according to experts.
Just keep in mind that you have to commit to other healthy lifestyle changes—like eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly—to get the most out of peptide therapy, Hanouneh advises.
“The combination of peptide therapy and lifestyle modification leads to greater weight loss than using one intervention alone,” he says.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide
Popular weight loss peptides semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) work in similar ways to support weight loss, notes Hanouneh.
“They both activate receptors of hormones in the brain which lead to appetite suppression and help the body regulate insulin production,” Hanouneh says. “Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor. Tirzepatide targets two receptors—GLP-1 and GIP—leading to greater weight loss [than semaglutide] (3).”
GLP-1 is a hormone that helps control your appetite and regulate blood sugar and metabolic functions (4, 5). When you eat, GLP-1 is released and helps slow the emptying of food from your stomach, which can make you feel full. Semaglutide and tirzepatide bind to GLP-1 receptors in your brain, reducing your appetite and promoting weight loss.
GIP, an anabolic hormone, targets your hypothalamus to make you feel full (6). Tirzepatide binds to GIP receptors, which may increase how much insulin your body makes, reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and improve blood sugar levels (7).
“These peptide medications work by making you feel less hungry—or less ‘hangry,’” says Hanouneh. This effect can support your weight loss efforts by eliminating the need to resist cravings. In part, this may also help you follow a nutritious meal plan a bit more easily.
CONSIDERING SEMAGLUTIDE?
Tesofensine
Like semaglutide and terzepatide, tesofensine peptide therapy supports weight loss by pumping the brakes on cravings—but in a slightly different way. Tesofensine influences neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which are partially responsible for hunger (8).
Tesofensine also revs up your body’s energy expenditure (8). This means that even when you’re at rest your body is still burning calories.
Naltrexone
Battling binge eating habits? Research shows that naltrexone can dampen the rewarding feeling that follows overeating, which may help you break the binge cycle (9).
By influencing neurotransmitters like dopamine, which are associated with pleasure and reward, this peptide helps put an end to compulsive cravings, particularly for foods that are high in fat and sugar (10, 11).
Naltrexone may also regulate certain hormones related to energy expenditure, according to a study on male mice, which may help you burn more calories (12).
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