Obesity / weight management

Losing weight and keeping it off

4 peptides · 9 studies

What people research this for

Most people here want to lose weight, keep it off, and feel better in their body. This is one of the most heavily studied areas for peptides. Several are prescription medicines with large trials, and others are still experimental.

Researched for

Weight loss
Body fat
Weight-related health

What the studies say so far

Semaglutide and tirzepatide have large trial programs, called STEP and SURMOUNT. Adults who took them lost much more weight on average than adults on placebo. Retatrutide has mid-stage trial results reporting large weight loss, and it is still being tested. MOTS-c has only been studied in animals and lab models, with no solid weight trials in people. The approved medicines are prescription only.

Peptides studied

Each peptide below has been studied in this area. The label shows how far that research has gone.

Semaglutide
Tested in clinical trials
Randomized trial in people · 3 studies
Study note. STEP trial program demonstrated significant weight reduction vs placebo in adults with overweight/obesity.
1. WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use - Prescribing Information (opens in a new tab)
  Novo Nordisk · FDA Drug Label · 2021 · FDA label
2. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1) (opens in a new tab)
  Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S · N Engl J Med · 2021 · PubMed
3. Semaglutide obesity studies on ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)
  Clinical trial registry · 2024 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Tirzepatide
Tested in clinical trials
Randomized trial in people · 2 studies
Study note. SURMOUNT trials report substantial weight loss at obesity study doses.
1. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1) (opens in a new tab)
  Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN · N Engl J Med · 2022 · PubMed
2. Tirzepatide obesity studies on ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)
  Clinical trial registry · 2024 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Retatrutide
Tested in clinical trials
Randomized trial in people · 2 studies
Study note. Triple agonist with published phase 2 diabetes/obesity weight-loss data, investigational status varies by market.
1. Retatrutide obesity studies on ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)
  Clinical trial registry · 2024 · ClinicalTrials.gov
2. Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity - A Phase 2 Trial (opens in a new tab)
  Jastreboff AM, Kaplan LM, Frias JP · N Engl J Med · 2023 · PubMed
MOTS-C
Early lab and animal research
Animal study · 2 studies
Study note. MOTS-c reduces obesity and insulin resistance in experimental models; human obesity RCTs are not established.
1. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. (opens in a new tab)
  Lee C, Zeng J, Drew BG · Cell metabolism · 2015 · PubMed
2. MOTS-c: A novel mitochondrial-derived peptide regulating muscle and fat metabolism. (opens in a new tab)
  Lee C, Kim KH, Cohen P · Free radical biology & medicine · 2016 · PubMed

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What people research this for

Researched for

What the studies say so far

Peptides studied

Semaglutide

Tirzepatide

Retatrutide

MOTS-C

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