Peptides are emerging as one of the most exciting cosmetic strategies for sustained weight loss. Drugs can help treat overweight and obesity, helping you manage your size and, sometimes, helping you achieve the figure you want.
Moreover, peptides are natural. These protein fragments are already part of your body, potentially enhancing safety.
How Do Peptides Help With Weight Loss?
Peptides can help with weight loss through several channels. Many take a multi-pronged approach, tackling obesity and overweight from several angles.
For example, peptides may increase the body’s metabolic rate. Research suggests these protein fragments could enhance energy homeostasis, busting the body out of an undesirable equilibrium.
Peptides could also suppress appetite. Consuming certain protein chains may induce the body to believe it has the energy it needs by interrupting dysfunctional hunger signaling.
So-called “fat burning” is another benefit of exogenous peptides. These molecules may signal the body to burn fat stores instead of carbohydrates, tackling stubborn fat deposits around the waist and hips.
Finally, some peptides can build muscle mass, increasing metabolic rate. Researchers believe the compounds do it by increasing growth hormone, a chemical messenger that tells muscle cells to grow and expand. Bodybuilders sometimes use peptides to enhance their gains, but they are helpful for regular women, too. Adding a few pounds of lean mass can help shift stubborn fat, improve insulin signaling, and enhance your overall shape.
What Peptides Are Available For Losing Weight?
Several peptides are available for weight loss. Sometimes, doctors refer to these as “next generation” weight loss medications because they are new.
- Semaglutide. Semaglutide is the most famous weight loss peptide and goes by the brand names Ozempic and Rybelsyus. In 2023, doctors prescribed it to more than 1.7% of all Americans, a forty-fold increase over five years. It works by tackling the metabolic harm done by diabetes and pre-diabetes, which can lead to weight gain in some people, with effects lasting for at least one year.
- Liraglutide. Liraglutide is another peptide option that might be suitable for some women, going by the brand name Saxenda. Researchers believe it works by regulating appetite, helping people keep weight off long-term. However, it is not a pill – it comes in a once-daily injectable.
- Tirzepatide. Also known as Mounjaro, tirzepatide works similarly to semaglutide but targets the additional receptor GIP, which may make it more potent in some subpopulations.
Are Peptides Safe?
Researchers widely regard peptides as safe because the body recognizes them. Peptides are short chains of amino acids, building blocks of proteins that people consume in food form every day. As such, they are essentially pre-assembled strings that perform desirable functions, such as metabolism regulation.
Multiple peptides are now FDA-approved, with numerous additional drugs in the pipeline. Regulators feel confident the benefits of these medications significantly outweigh the potential costs or downsides.
However, you still need to be careful. Safety depends on the source of the peptides, the dose you take, and your current health status. Negative interactions may still exist with some drugs and conditions.
Are Peptides Regulated?
The FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) regulates synthetic, endogenous, and recombinant peptide products. Currently, three semaglutide products are FDA-approved:
- Ozempic injections
- Rybelsus tablets
- Wegovy injections (another brand of semaglutide)
The FDA has found illegally marketed semaglutide, so anyone wanting to use it should take precautions. Only use drugs supplied by reputable clinics and healthcare professionals who take steps to ensure supply chain integrity.
Why Are There So Many Weight Loss Peptide Brands?
There are multiple weight loss peptide brands because they work in different ways. Most bind to a single receptor (or collection of receptors), affecting how your metabolism works, however, some also attach to multiple targets. Doctors may prefer some peptides over others based on your current health status and weight loss goals.
Furthermore, peptide brands target different markets. Some are research-grade, where scientists use them to learn more about medications or human metabolism. Others are cosmetic or wellness-related and have different amino acid constituents.
Schedule A Consultation
Because of the sheer variety of peptides now available, we recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our professionals. You can talk to us about the various peptides available to you, the outcomes you can expect, and how much weight they could help you lose. Get in touch today.
