How do peptides for weight loss differ from traditional weight loss medications?
Peptides for Weight Loss
Peptides are little chains made of amino acids that can help folks lose weight and deal with problems linked to being too heavy. They do this by telling the body to release insulin, which makes blood sugar better, makes you feel less hungry, and helps you feel full. Some peptides used for weight loss include:
- Semaglutide: A GLP-1 receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
- Liraglutide: Another GLP-1 receptor agonist specifically approved for weight loss.
- Tirzepatide: A GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Traditional Weight Loss Medications
Traditional weight loss medications work primarily by reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness. Some common weight loss medications include:
- Orlistat (Alli, Xenical): It works by inhibiting the breakdown of fat in the gut, making you take in fewer calories from fat.
- Phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira): It is a sympathomimetic amine anorectic agent that stimulates neurons to release a particular group of neurotransmitters known as catecholamines, including dopamine, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine.
- Bupropion and Naltrexone (Contrave): These two drugs work on areas of the brain that control appetite and food cravings.
Can peptides cause any long-term changes in appetite or metabolism?
Appetite
Peptides like GLP-1, peptide YY, pancreatic polypeptide, and oxyntomodulin can affect how hungry we feel. They send messages to our brains to control how full or hungry we are in the short term. For example, GLP-1 makes our stomach empty slower, so we feel full for a longer time and eat less.
Metabolism
Peptides can also have an impact on metabolism. They can influence energy homeostasis, which is the balance of energy intake and energy expenditure. When you exercise and lose weight, your body goes through changes that make you want to eat more when you’re not eating. But at the same time, you feel fuller after meals, and your body gets better at controlling how hungry you feel.
Clinical Evidence and Research
Best Peptides For Weight Loss
Semaglutide
In a 2022 study, researchers compared the weight loss effectiveness of semaglutide and liraglutide when combined with diet and exercise. The findings indicated that semaglutide led to greater weight loss at 68 weeks compared to liraglutide. [1].
Liraglutide
A 2021 study showed that 277 subjects taking 3 mg of liraglutide daily lost 9 pounds (4.1 kg) [2].
Tirzepatide
A study conducted with participants with obesity issues stated that treatment with tirzepatide had an average weight loss of 10%-20% of their body weight after 72 weeks [3].
AOD9604
A report shared the evidence from a 12-week trial that a low dose of AOD9604 helps in weight loss in overweight patients [4].
5-Amino-1MQ
According to research, 5-Amino-1MQ was able to prevent fat accumulation and shrink fat cells, reducing the appearance of fat tissue [5].
CJC-1295
According to an article from Peptide Sciences, the effects of CJC-1295, a synthetic derivative of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), may enhance fat metabolism and promote muscle growth.
Peptides For Weight Loss
My Concierge MD offers the best peptides for weight loss near me in Beverly Hills but can also come to your home or office throughout the Los Angeles area. We serve patients near Beverly Hills, Bel Air, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Downtown Los Angeles, Encino, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Burbank, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Northridge, North Hollywood, Topanga, Canoga Park, Reseda, Valley Glen, Chatsworth, West Hills, Winnetka, Universal City, Silverlake, Echo Park, and many more.
References:
- Rubino DM, Greenway FL, Khalid U, et al. Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2022;327(2):138–150. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23619
- Haase CL, Serratore Achenbach MG, Lucrezi G, Jeswani N, Maurer S, Egermann U. Use of Liraglutide 3.0 mg for Weight Management in a Real-World Setting in Switzerland. Obes Facts. 2021;14(5):568-576. doi:10.1159/000518325
- Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2022;387(3):205-216. doi:https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2206038
- News Medical. Obesity drug codenamed AOD9604 highly successful in trials. News-Medical. Published December 16, 2004. Accessed February 28, 2024. https://www.news-medical.net/news/2004/12/16/6878.aspx
- Neelakantan H, Wang HY, Vance V, Hommel JD, McHardy SF, Watowich SJ. Structure-Activity Relationship for Small Molecule Inhibitors of Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase. J Med Chem. 2017;60(12):5015–5028.