Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat’s the Best Peptide for Weight Loss?Do Peptides Really Work for Weight Loss?Will You Need to Take Them for the Rest of Your Life?Do You Need a Prescription?How Much Weight Do You Lose on Peptides?Potential Side Effects and RisksWho Should Consider Them?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What’s the Best Peptide for Weight Loss?
Do Peptides Really Work for Weight Loss?
Will You Need to Take Them for the Rest of Your Life?
Do You Need a Prescription?
How Much Weight Do You Lose on Peptides?
Potential Side Effects and Risks
Who Should Consider Them?
Peptides are parts of proteins that transmit signals throughout your body.Naturally occurring peptides your body produces include hormones, such as insulin,ghrelin,leptin, andglucagon-like peptide 1(GLP-1). These peptides regulate your appetite, blood sugar, and energy usage.
Synthetic peptides (i.e., made in a lab) for weight loss are injectables called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists).They were initially developed for type 2 diabetes.These medicines mimic the effects of GLP-1, which include breaking down glucose (sugar), reducing your appetite, and keeping you full.
The use of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss has skyrocketed as they’ve gained traction on social media and among celebrities.However, the best peptides for weight loss depend on several factors.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several peptide medications for weight management. The following GLP-1 agonists may promote weight loss:
Other injectable peptides may help build muscle mass or reduce body fat but are not associated with weight loss per se. These peptides include:
PeptideslikeGLP-1 agonistshave proved effective for weight loss.How well they work depends on several factors, including the following:
Do keep in mind that not everyone who uses peptides will lose weight. Studies show that only one in three people with type 2 diabetes who use peptides without also changing their diet or exercise will lose more than 5% of their body weight.
Will You Need to Take Peptides for the Rest of Your Life?
It may be common to regain weight after stopping medication.For instance, a clinical trial showed that people who stopped taking Wegovy regained about two-thirds of the weight they’d lost in one year.
Reaching aweight-loss plateautypically means your body’s metabolism has adapted, not that your medicine has stopped working.
Maintaining a healthy weight is a great accomplishment. Research shows that losing even 5% of one’s body weight can lowerblood pressure andcholesterol levelsand improve overall heart health.
Do You Need a Prescription for Peptides for Weight Loss?
Yes. You’ll need a prescription from a healthcare provider for any FDA-approved injectable peptides.
The amount of weight you can expect to lose on peptides varies based on personal factors like diet, amount of exercise, and other health conditions you have.
As with many weight loss methods and medications, there’s no easy way to predict how well you will respond to peptides for weight loss or exactly how much weight you’ll lose. However, data from clinical trials suggests the following:
What Are Potential Side Effects and Risks of Peptides?
There are some significant side effects to remember if you use a GLP-1 agonist for weight loss, including the following:
If you develop these side effects, contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency medical care.
Who Should Consider Peptides for Weight Loss?
Optimal candidates for GLP-1 agonists include the following:
Remember that BMI is just one data point and doesn’t give a complete picture of your overall health. For this reason, it’snot always accurate. For instance, BMI doesn’t distinguish between body fat and lean muscle. It also doesn’t specify the location of the body fat. Fat that accumulates around theabdomenis more concerning in terms of diabetes and heart disease risk, but BMI alone doesn’t guide us in this direction.
Not everyone is a good candidate for peptide treatment. People whoshouldn’ttake GLP-1 agonists include:
If you’re considering peptides for weight loss, discuss your wellness goals with your healthcare provider, who can help you weigh your options.
Summary
A class of prescription peptides called GLP-1 agonists can help some people lose weight, particularly when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. These medicines help curb appetite, keep you full, and reduce food intake. The amount of weight you can expect to lose on peptides varies. People without diabetes typically lose more weight than those who have diabetes.
Many people will need lifelong peptide treatment to maintain weight loss.
Peptides have been approved for people with specific BMIs, but there may be other reasons they’re a good choice for you. Be sure to discuss your health goals and concerns with your healthcare provider, who can help you with a weight management plan.
If you decide to use a GLP-1 agonist like Ozempic, Zepbound, or Saxenda, watch out for side effects. Gastrointestinal side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. More severe side effects include pancreatitis, gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach leading to food sitting too long in the stomach), and psychiatric events.
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