Peptides for weight loss
The most-searched use in the category, and the one where the gap between what works and what is sold is widest. Every peptide below is used for weight or fat loss; the grade tells you which ones have actually shown it in people.
Ranked by strength of evidence
- S+Semaglutide
Produces large, sustained weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight
The approved drug behind Ozempic and Wegovy.
Read the evidence → - S+Tirzepatide
Produces large, sustained weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight — and more than semaglutide in head-to-head trials
Mounjaro and Zepbound. Beat semaglutide head-to-head.
Read the evidence → - S+Retatrutide
Produces large weight loss in adults with obesity/overweight
The largest weight loss recorded in obesity trials — still investigational, trial participants only.
Read the evidence → - S+Mazdutide
Produces substantial weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight
Approved in China, and nowhere else. Two published Phase 3 trials, all of them run in Chinese participants.
Read the evidence → - S+Cagrilintide
Combined with semaglutide (CagriSema), produces large weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight
An amylin analog — a different mechanism from the GLP-1 drugs. Investigational; on its own it underperformed semaglutide.
Read the evidence → - S+Tesamorelin
Reduces excess visceral abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy
Approved, but only for a specific HIV-related indication.
Read the evidence → - SSurvodutide
Produces substantial weight loss in adults with obesity
Pairs GLP-1 with glucagon rather than GIP. Phase 2 only so far, and investigational.
Read the evidence → - B
- B
- B
- B
- CAOD-9604
Produces meaningful weight or fat loss in humans
Its pivotal Phase 2b obesity program did not show significant weight loss.
Read the evidence → - C5-Amino-1MQ
Causes fat loss or weight reduction in humans
Cell and mouse data only — and it is a small molecule, not a peptide.
Read the evidence → - CHCG
Causes fat loss, reduces hunger, or redistributes body fat (the 'HCG diet')
The FDA label says in capital letters that it does not do this. The weight loss comes from the 500-calorie diet sold with it.
Read the evidence →
The honest read
Everything at the top of this list is an approved, prescription medicine, and everything sold without a prescription sits at the bottom. That is the pattern for this use case. If the top of the list is what you are after, it runs through a licensed prescriber.
Looking at a different goal? Browse all use cases, or get every peptide’s grade on one page.