Best peptides for fat loss
Peptides that target fat metabolism specifically, including visceral fat reduction and improved body composition without necessarily lowering scale weight.
What to know
Tesamorelin has the strongest evidence for visceral fat reduction specifically (FDA-approved for HIV lipodystrophy). AOD-9604 targets lipolysis without the full GH effects. For overall fat loss (not just body recomp), GLP-1 agonists remain most effective. Stack GH peptides with consistent training for best body composition changes.
Recommended peptides
Tesamorelin
gh-secretagogue
Tesamorelin (brand name Egrifta) is a stabilized synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and the only FDA-approved GH secretagogue currently on the market. The FDA approved it in November 2010 for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, a condition where antiretroviral therapy redistributes fat from the limbs to the abdomen and trunk. This approval rests on two pivotal Phase 3 trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine showing tesamorelin produced a 15-18% reduction in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) compared to placebo over 26 weeks (PMID: 20395564). Tesamorelin is a 44-amino acid peptide, identical in length to endogenous GHRH, with a trans-3-hexenoic acid modification on the N-terminus that slows enzymatic degradation and extends its half-life. Unlike sermorelin (29 amino acids) or CJC-1295 (which extends half-life through albumin binding), tesamorelin achieves its stability through chemical modification of the peptide backbone itself. It acts exclusively on the GHRH receptor (GHRHR) using the same mechanism as endogenous GHRH, stimulating pituitary somatotrophs to release GH in the body's natural pulsatile pattern while preserving the somatostatin feedback loop. Beyond its approved lipodystrophy indication, tesamorelin has been studied in two additional populations: healthy older adults and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A large NIH-funded 152-subject RCT found that 20 weeks of tesamorelin significantly improved executive function (P = 0.005) across both healthy aging and MCI groups, with no worsening of glucose tolerance in non-diabetic subjects (PMID: 22869065). A separate RCT found it significantly increased muscle density and lean muscle area across four trunk muscle groups in HIV patients compared to placebo (PMID: 31237318). These findings have driven off-label interest in anti-aging and cognitive health applications.
AOD-9604
metabolic
AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of human growth hormone (hGH fragment 176-191) that stimulates fat breakdown without the growth-promoting effects of full HGH.
MOTS-c
metabolic
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide that regulates metabolic homeostasis and has been called an "exercise mimetic" for its ability to activate AMPK pathways.
Semaglutide
glp1-weight-loss
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist originally developed for type 2 diabetes that has demonstrated significant weight loss effects in clinical trials. Sold under the brand names Ozempic (diabetes) and Wegovy (weight management), it is the most prescribed anti-obesity medication worldwide as of 2026. Semaglutide works by mimicking the incretin hormone GLP-1, reducing appetite, slowing gastric emptying, and improving insulin sensitivity. The STEP clinical trial program — spanning over 10,000 participants across multiple studies — established semaglutide as a breakthrough treatment for obesity, with average weight loss of 14.9% over 68 weeks. An oral formulation (Rybelsus for diabetes, oral Wegovy for weight loss) expanded access beyond injection-only delivery. Semaglutide also demonstrated cardiovascular benefits in the SELECT trial, reducing major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% in overweight adults.
Tirzepatide
glp1-weight-loss
Tirzepatide is a first-in-class dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist that has demonstrated greater weight loss than any other approved anti-obesity medication. Sold as Mounjaro (diabetes) and Zepbound (weight management), it activates two complementary incretin pathways simultaneously. The SURMOUNT clinical trial program showed average weight loss of 20.9% at the highest dose — with over half of participants losing 20%+ of body weight. In the landmark SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial against semaglutide, tirzepatide produced statistically superior weight loss (20.2% vs 13.7%). Developed by Eli Lilly, tirzepatide represents a paradigm shift from single-receptor to multi-receptor approaches in obesity treatment.
Ipamorelin
gh-secretagogue
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide and growth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP) that stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone through selective activation of the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). Developed in the late 1990s by Novo Nordisk, it was characterized in a landmark 1999 study as the first GHRP to release GH with absolute selectivity, meaning it does not significantly elevate cortisol, prolactin, ACTH, FSH, or LH at pharmacological doses (PMID: 10580762). This hormonal selectivity distinguishes it from older GHRPs like GHRP-2 and GHRP-6, which produce meaningful cortisol and prolactin elevations that can complicate long-term use. Ipamorelin is most commonly combined with CJC-1295 (a GHRH analog) to produce synergistic GH release through dual-pathway stimulation. The two peptides act on different receptors and when administered together produce GH output substantially greater than either compound alone. This combination has become one of the most widely used peptide protocols in anti-aging medicine and performance-oriented use. Ipamorelin was placed on the FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance list in 2023, restricting compounding pharmacy production, though regulatory status remained in flux following a February 2026 announcement from HHS regarding potential reinstatement of certain peptides.
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Recommended stacks
GLP-1 Weight Loss Stack
beginner — $200-600 (compounded) or $1,000+ (brand)
The foundational weight loss protocol using GLP-1 receptor agonists with muscle preservation support. The most evidence-backed approach to significant weight loss.
Dual Agonist Fat Loss Stack
intermediate — $300-800
Tirzepatide-based protocol leveraging dual GLP-1/GIP receptor activation for maximum weight loss with metabolic support.
GH Optimization Stack
intermediate — $100-250
Growth hormone secretagogue stack combining GHRP and GHRH for synergistic GH release without exogenous HGH.
Body Recomposition Stack
intermediate — $250-500
Simultaneous fat loss and muscle preservation/growth protocol combining GH optimization with targeted fat metabolism.
The Weight Loss Stack
intermediate — $400-1,200
Combines the appetite-suppressing power of semaglutide with tesamorelin's targeted visceral fat reduction. Semaglutide reduces caloric intake through GLP-1 receptor activation while tesamorelin specifically targets the deep abdominal fat linked to metabolic disease.
The GH Optimization Stack
intermediate — $100-250
The most popular growth hormone secretagogue combination. CJC-1295 (a GHRH analog) and ipamorelin (a GHRP) work through complementary receptor pathways to produce synergistic GH release without the side effects of exogenous HGH.
The Fat Loss Stack
advanced — $350-700
A triple-compound approach to fat loss that works through three distinct mechanisms: AOD-9604 mimics the fat-burning fragment of growth hormone, tesamorelin targets visceral fat through GHRH receptor activation, and MOTS-c optimizes mitochondrial metabolism.
The Muscle Growth Stack
advanced — $250-500
Combines GH secretagogues with IGF-1 LR3 for maximum anabolic signaling. CJC-1295 and ipamorelin elevate natural GH production, while IGF-1 LR3 provides direct muscle-building stimulus through insulin-like growth factor receptor activation.
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Written by Alejandro Reyes
Founder & Lead Researcher
Reviewed by Peptide Nerds Editorial · Updated April 2026