Just as technology constantly evolves, so too do new weight loss methods. One of the treatments we’re most excited about at OneLife Health & Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, is peptide treatment. It’s not a trend, but rather a science-backed way to shed weight and enjoy other transformative benefits like improved sleep quality, younger-looking skin, and more energy.

Can Peptide Therapy Help You Lose Weight?

Peptides have increasingly made their way into medical applications as we learn more about them. For instance, we know they’re highly active in the physiology and biochemistry of every living organism. They’re also naturally synthesized by messenger molecules and serve as the building blocks of health. And because they consist of amino acids, peptides assist with specialized tasks like:

• Restoring collagen
• Increasing libido
• Reducing tissue inflammation
• Increasing muscle mass
• Losing stubborn fat pockets

Once inside the body, peptide therapy replenishes, replaces, or mimics the functions of naturally-occurring peptides. At the forefront of this activity is delivering directives to cells in a highly selective manner. For instance, a peptide intending to heal heart tissues would not engage in cross-activity within the body. This enables us to deliver treatment in a very predictable way.

What Does This Have to Do with Weight Loss?

The specific function of a peptide depends on the amino acids involved in its chain, the exact sequence of those amino acids, and the peptide’s overall shape. Some peptides act as movers that transport materials into cells, meaning they can take glucose from the blood and give it to cells for energy use. Others impact metabolism and food digestion.

The point is that some peptides are directly involved with burning fat, especially in the abdomen, and increasing muscle mass – both of which help you lose weight. Most fall under the label of growth hormone-releasing peptides and include:

• CJC 1295
• Ipamorelin
• Tesamorelin
• Hexamorelin
• GHR-2
• HGR-6

The Importance of Growth Hormone

Growth hormone-releasing peptides act exactly as you might expect: they instruct the anterior pituitary to release growth hormone (GH). This small protein carries out a number of tasks, like increasing the oxidation of free fatty acids, regulating stem cells to repair the body during sleep, and instructing muscle cells to grow during resistance training.

When functioning normally, the pituitary gland emits GH in bursts, such as after exercise and during sleep. Production is higher at night than during the day, telling us that GH levels naturally fluctuate throughout a 24-hour period. We also know its production rises during childhood, peaks in puberty, and declines from middle age onward. Because GH boosts fat use and regulates blood sugar levels, decreased levels can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance.

The Best Peptides for Fat Loss

We’re going to jump right into this conversation by starting with MOTS-c, often called an exercise mimetic for the effects it has on the body. MOTS-c is derived from mitochondria and, not surprisingly, provides far-reaching benefits like:

• Regulating longevity
• Reducing obesity
• Improving physical performance
• Reducing your risks for diabetes

MOTSc

Studies show MOTSc can enhance beta-oxidation, decrease fat gain even when people eat high-fat diets, and increase thermogenic brown fat. Let’s break these down in a little more detail to better understand how this peptide operates. Beta-oxidation is a metabolic process that encompasses many steps; ultimately, it allows the body to produce energy by breaking down fatty acid molecules.

This means that rather than store said energy, it gets used in a way that discourages weight gain. As for brown fat, it breaks down glucose and fat molecules to help maintain a healthy body temperature. It was long believed that only babies possessed brown fat, but research now tells us that even adults retain it in small pockets. Increasing brown fat helps counter the effects of white fat, which stores extra energy and causes obesity.

Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin has shown in studies to increase muscle tissue and decrease fat. It also reduces inflammation responses inversely associated with general health biomarkers. And in a controlled study of 152 adults provided with tesamorelin therapy, each showed a reduction in abdominal fat that lasted more than a year.

As a peptide, tesamorelin improves the body’s overall framework and is especially beneficial for people over the age of 30, as this marks the time when GH production naturally starts to wane. Physical activity can support the effects of tesamorelin to further ramp up weight loss.

AOD9604

This peptide is remarkable because it contains the fat reducing activity of human growth hormone (hGH) without any of the highly-publicized negative side effects. A study of 300 obese patients revealed that every participant lost weight over 12 weeks when treated with this peptide. Additional studies show the therapeutic effects of AOD9604 include increased fat oxidation and increased lipolysis (fat breakdown).

This peptide can result in greater weight loss in less time than just diet and exercise. It usually takes 12 weeks for results to show, with lifestyle and genetics playing into that. But it is extremely safe for therapeutic purposes and often recommended as a sound place to start for patients who want to easily and effectively drop fat.

CJC 1295

In a nutshell, the foremost tasks of this peptide are to boost protein synthesis and fuel muscle tissue growth. It stimulates and maintains growth hormone secretion to promote fat loss, as supported by clinical studies.

Another benefit is this: it encourages slow-wave sleep, the stage most often associated with memory formation and muscle recovery. As an added benefit, CJC 1295 stimulates collagen and elastin production to improve skin texture and appearance.

Ipamorelin

Studies reveal the benefits of this peptide include:

• Long-term GH production
• Increased energy
• Elevated mood
• Improved sleep
• Accelerated fat loss

Ipamorelin naturally stimulates the pituitary gland by acting similarly to the hunger hormone ghrelin, but without inducing negative side effects like increased appetite or elevated cortisol. Within just three months, patients can expect general improvements to body composition. These results become even more prominent when ipamorelin is paired with CDC 1295; together, they work synergistically to maintain long-term fat loss.

GHRP-6

This peptide increases both GH and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). It is therefore an ideal choice for bodybuilders, athletes, and patients who want to improve their stamina during workouts.

A study from The New England Journal of Medicine showed that male participants over age 60 who took GHRP-6 for six months increased lean body mass by almost 9 percent and lost almost 15 percent of fat mass.

Tesofensine

Initially researched for its impact on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, it was discovered that tesofensine assists with weight loss. Shortly after that, an investigation into its modulation on satiety and appetite started.

One study suggested this peptide can reduce weight two times better than any other current weight-loss drug, and in a six-month trial, participants who received tesofensine therapy each lost around 25 pounds.

Why We Gain Weight

No matter how many times you might hear it, it’s always good to know the process behind weight gain. We can break it down like this:

• Excessive intake of sugar and carbs increases blood sugar levels
• The pancreas is triggered to release insulin
• Glucose is moved into cells, especially those of the liver
• The body continues storing excess sugar as fat
• Carbs tell the body to hold rather than burn stored fat

Unfortunately, however, weight gain isn’t always quite this simple, especially when you account for the decline of GH at a rate of 15 percent for every decade of adult life. This hormone is directly related to a healthy metabolism, exercise capacity, lower levels of fat accumulation, and muscle maintenance. A decline correlates to less IGF-1, which assists with fat modulation and glucose metabolism.

Peptides As a Counter Measure

Reduced levels of both GH and IGF-1 are associated with increased abdominal fat. While many factors play into the secretion of GH – including genetics, age, and lifestyle – peptide treatment is known to stimulate it. This can correct your metabolic health and, in combination with simple lifestyle modifications, help you achieve the physique you desire.

The Answers You Need

A lot of people mistake peptides for proteins, but they’re not the same. Peptides are smaller, allowing the body to process them more readily and thus harness their benefits more quickly. Their composition is also different; peptides generally consist of between two and 50 amino acids, whereas proteins contain 50 or more amino acids.

Do Peptides Offer Any Other Benefits?

Unequivocally, the answer is yes. Some stimulate melanin to protect the skin against sun damage, while others can reduce inflammation to improve the body’s healing processes.

Studies reveal they can also prevent age-related bone loss, improve strength training outcomes, and assist with wound healing. Additionally, peptide therapies improve cellular respiration and remove damaged cells so the body can function better as a whole.

Is Peptide Treatment Safe?

Because peptide treatment so closely mimics what the body makes naturally, it is very safe. Even synthetic therapies encourage the same functions as natural peptide treatment, and these close similarities provide predictable outcomes. And because these peptide treatment are biologically compatible with the body, the risk for adverse effects is very low.

What Is Therapy Like?

Most peptides are delivered via injections so they can directly enter the bloodstream for faster absorption. This bypasses other bodily systems that can reduce the efficacy of treatment and take longer for benefits to show. The injections are typically administered on a set schedule, which we can discuss during your consultation. We will, in fact, use this time to craft an entire treatment plan based solely on your needs.

How Quickly Do Results Show?

We caution patients not to think of treatment as an immediate cure-all for concerns. What we do recommend is that you see it as a supportive therapy that can help you lose weight. It’s important to supplement this with a healthy, nutritious diet (as mentioned earlier) and exercise. Results might take a few weeks to show, but once they begin, the weight will start to melt off more quickly.

Those benefits that develop the most rapidly include improved sleep and higher energy levels. You might also notice an increase in libido and, as stated earlier, brighter and smoother skin. For the best results, we recommend that you:

• Reduce sugar and starches from your diet
• Sleep eight hours per night
• Manage stress in a healthy, viable way
• Find ways to increase your physical activity

A Biocompatible Way to Lose Weight

Peptide treatment is lauded for being the next big step in modern medicine. When used in conjunction with healthy habits, you’ll enjoy sustainable weight loss and muscle gain in a way that complements your body’s natural processes. Schedule your consultation today by contacting OneLife Health & Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.