Peptide Therapy for Weight Loss: What Works, What Doesn't, and What to Test

Key Takeaways

• Regulatory Status: As of April 2026, semaglutide (Wegovy), tirzepatide (Zepbound), and liraglutide (Saxenda) are FDA-approved for weight management in qualifying adults. Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only. Off-label use of the branded Egrifta product is permitted under the practice of medicine but not FDA-evaluated for other populations; tesamorelin cannot be compounded under 503A due to its biologic classification. CJC-1295 (without DAC), ipamorelin, and AOD-9604 are not FDA-approved for any indication. CJC-1295 (without DAC) and ipamorelin were the subject of an April 22, 2026 FDA PCAC recommendation against inclusion on the 503A bulk drug substances list; access through compounding pharmacies is narrowing.
• Research Stage: GLP-1 receptor agonists have extensive phase 3 RCT evidence; tesamorelin has approved-indication phase 3 data; CJC-1295 (without DAC) and ipamorelin have early human pharmacokinetic data with limited weight-loss RCTs; AOD-9604 weight-loss evidence is primarily preclinical.
• Availability: Tirzepatide is available through Superpower's licensed provider network following clinical evaluation, subject to state availability (not available in NY, NJ, CA, SC, AL, AR, LA); semaglutide availability through Superpower varies and should be confirmed at consultation. Tesamorelin is available only as Egrifta (brand). CJC-1295 (without DAC) and ipamorelin were the subject of an April 22, 2026 FDA PCAC recommendation against inclusion on the 503A bulk drug substances list; 503A compounding against a patient-specific prescription remains technically available pending FDA's final determination but access is narrowing. AOD-9604 is not offered through Superpower.
• How it works: Weight-loss peptides reduce appetite, slow gastric emptying, or stimulate growth hormone to shift body composition toward fat loss.
• What the evidence shows: In pivotal phase 3 trials, semaglutide 2.4 mg showed a mean weight reduction of approximately 15% (STEP 1) and tirzepatide 15 mg showed approximately 21% (SURMOUNT-1); individual response varies. Growth hormone secretagogues show body composition effects with a smaller evidence base; AOD-9604 lacks completed human efficacy trials.

Weight-loss pharmacotherapy underwent a structural shift in the 2020s, driven primarily by the clinical trial programs supporting GLP-1 receptor agonists. Wilding and colleagues, in their 2021 STEP 1 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported a 14.9% mean weight reduction with weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg over 68 weeks — one of the largest mean weight reductions reported in a phase 3 weight-loss RCT to that date. Tirzepatide's subsequent SURMOUNT-1 trial produced a larger mean reduction. That evidence base does not uniformly extend to the broader peptide weight-loss category, which includes compounds ranging from well-studied FDA-approved medications to growth hormone secretagogues with limited human body-composition data to research compounds whose lipolytic mechanisms have been characterized almost entirely in animal models. This article maps the evidence for each class honestly, covers candidacy and safety, and identifies which biomarkers give a provider the most interpretable starting point before prescribing.

How Weight-Loss Peptides Work in the Body

GLP-1 receptor signaling and appetite regulation

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is an endogenous incretin produced by L-cells in the gut after meals. It binds GLP-1 receptors on pancreatic beta cells to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon release, and slows gastric emptying. Its weight-regulatory effects operate primarily through central mechanisms: GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus and brainstem reduce appetite and increase satiety signals. Moiz and colleagues, in a 2025 review in the American Journal of Medicine, documented peripheral and central GLP-1 mechanisms in receptor agonist-induced weight loss, including direct effects on the nucleus accumbens that modulate food reward. Tirzepatide adds GIP receptor agonism to this mechanism, which appears to produce synergistic effects on fat mass reduction and metabolic improvement beyond GLP-1 agonism alone.

Growth hormone secretagogue mechanisms and body composition

Growth hormone secretagogues stimulate the pituitary gland to release endogenous growth hormone in pulsatile bursts. GH promotes lipolysis — the mobilization of stored fat as free fatty acids — and increases lean mass through IGF-1-mediated anabolic signaling. This is a distinct mechanism from GLP-1 agonism: GH secretagogues do not significantly suppress appetite or slow gastric emptying. Their weight-related effects manifest primarily as shifts in body composition — reductions in fat mass, particularly visceral fat — rather than as the large absolute weight losses seen in GLP-1 trials. A 1998 characterization of ipamorelin by Raun and colleagues in the European Journal of Endocrinology established ipamorelin as first selective GH secretagogue without the cortisol or ACTH activation seen with earlier compounds in this class.

Proposed mechanisms of AOD-9604

AOD-9604 is a synthetic C-terminal fragment of growth hormone — specifically, residues 177–191 of the GH sequence. Unlike full-length GH, it does not bind the GH receptor or elevate IGF-1 at studied doses, suggesting a distinct lipolytic pathway. Heffernan and colleagues, in a 2001 study in Endocrinology, reported lipolytic effects through beta-3 adrenergic activation in obese mice, proposing beta-3 adrenergic pathway activation as the mechanism. This is animal-model data. No completed phase 3 human trial for AOD-9604-induced weight loss has been published as of April 2026; the mechanism remains characterized primarily in preclinical models.

Who Is a Candidate for Weight-Loss Peptide Therapy?

Who providers typically evaluate for this therapy

Candidacy criteria differ meaningfully across the three evidence tiers in this category. For FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonists, clinical trial eligibility — and FDA labeling — specifies the following populations. Providers typically consider GLP-1 agonist therapy for individuals who:

• Have a BMI of 30 or above (obesity class I or higher), consistent with clinical trial enrollment criteria in STEP 1 and SURMOUNT-1
• Have a BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related comorbidity — hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease — matching the FDA-approved indication for semaglutide and tirzepatide
• Have not achieved sufficient weight reduction through lifestyle modification alone, framing peptide therapy as part of a multimodal approach consistent with the Elmaleh-Sachs 2023 JAMA obesity management review
• Are being evaluated for cardiovascular risk reduction alongside weight management, given the SELECT trial cardiovascular outcome data for semaglutide

For growth hormone secretagogue therapy targeting body composition, providers evaluate a different clinical profile: documented GH axis insufficiency, elevated visceral fat with preserved or reduced lean mass, and metabolic markers suggesting fat redistribution rather than simple caloric excess. Candidacy assessment includes reviewing health history, current medications, and relevant baseline labs. Licensed providers on the Superpower platform evaluate candidacy through clinical consultation and baseline lab work.

Who should not use this therapy

Contraindications vary by compound class. Across the weight-loss peptide category, providers typically exclude individuals who:

• Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2) — GLP-1 receptor agonists carry an FDA boxed warning for MTC risk based on rodent studies; the human relevance is uncertain but the contraindication is standard in labeling
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding — no safety data exists for GLP-1 agonists or GH secretagogues in these populations; teratogenic risk cannot be excluded
• Have a history of pancreatitis — GLP-1 therapies are associated with elevated risk of acute pancreatitis; the causal relationship remains debated but the exclusion is standard in clinical practice
• Have active or suspected malignancy — GH secretagogues elevate IGF-1, which has theoretical tumor-promoting effects through proliferative signaling; this is a relative contraindication based on mechanistic concern
• Have poorly controlled type 1 diabetes or history of diabetic ketoacidosis — GH axis peptides can impair insulin sensitivity; close glucose monitoring is required if prescribed in any insulin-dependent context
• Have active gallbladder disease — GLP-1 therapies are associated with increased gallstone and gallbladder event risk; pre-existing gallbladder pathology elevates that risk further

This is not an exhaustive list. A licensed provider will evaluate individual risk factors, medication interactions, and relevant lab values before prescribing.

Weight-Loss Peptide Therapy and the Evidence: What the Research Actually Shows

GLP-1 receptor agonists: the highest-evidence class

[Human RCT] Among peptide therapeutics studied for weight loss, the GLP-1 receptor agonist class has the most extensive phase 3 clinical trial program. In the STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Wilding and colleagues in 2021, 1,961 adults with obesity received weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo for 68 weeks. Participants in the semaglutide group achieved a mean body weight reduction of 14.9% versus 2.4% with placebo, with 86.4% losing at least 5% of body weight. The 2-year Garvey 2022 STEP 5 extension confirmed sustained weight loss of 15.2% at 104 weeks. The SELECT trial, published by Lincoff and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2023, extended these findings to hard cardiovascular outcomes: in 17,604 adults with cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity without diabetes, semaglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events 20% (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72–0.90) over a median of 33 months. Tirzepatide matched and exceeded semaglutide's weight-loss efficacy. In SURMOUNT-1, published by Jastreboff and colleagues in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2022, tirzepatide 15 mg produced a mean weight reduction of approximately 21% versus 3% placebo at 72 weeks in 2,539 adults with obesity. A 2025 head-to-head phase 3b trial by Aronne and colleagues, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, directly confirmed tirzepatide's greater efficacy: tirzepatide −20.2% versus semaglutide −13.7% over 72 weeks in 751 adults with obesity. A 2025 Cochrane systematic review by Franco and colleagues, covering 9 RCTs of tirzepatide for obesity, confirmed substantial weight loss with sustained medium-term benefits.

Tesamorelin: FDA-approved for visceral fat in HIV lipodystrophy

[Human RCT — approved indication] Tesamorelin is a synthetic analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). It is FDA-approved as Egrifta specifically for the reduction of excess visceral adipose tissue in adults with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. In a phase III trial by Stanley and colleagues, published in JAMA in 2014, tesamorelin reduced visceral adipose tissue by 34 cm² (versus +8 cm² with placebo, P=.005) and reduced liver fat in HIV-infected adults with abdominal fat accumulation over six months. A review by Dhillon, published in Drugs in 2011, characterized tesamorelin as first approved for HIV-associated visceral adiposity, summarizing pivotal phase 3 evidence of clinically significant VAT reduction. Stanley and colleagues, in a 2012 paper in Clinical Infectious Diseases, found that VAT reduction with tesamorelin correlated with improved metabolic profile markers including triglycerides and glucose in HIV-positive patients. Use of the branded Egrifta product outside the approved HIV-lipodystrophy indication is off-label, which is permitted under the practice of medicine but not evaluated or endorsed by FDA for those populations. Because tesamorelin was transitioned to biologic regulation on March 23, 2020 under the "deemed-to-be-a-license" provision of the BPCIA (enacted 2010), it cannot be lawfully produced through pharmacy compounding under Section 503A. Only the FDA-approved product, Egrifta, is legally available in the United States.

CJC-1295 and ipamorelin: GH secretagogue combination with limited weight-loss RCT data

[Limited human data] CJC-1295 is a synthetic GHRH analog; ipamorelin is a GHRP (growth hormone releasing peptide) that acts on ghrelin receptors. Together, they stimulate pulsatile GH release through complementary receptor pathways. Gobburu and colleagues, in a 1999 study in Pharmaceutical Research, characterized ipamorelin's pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profile in human volunteers, establishing its GH-stimulating properties and half-life characteristics. However, direct human RCTs measuring weight loss or fat mass reduction as a primary endpoint for the CJC-1295/ipamorelin combination in healthy adults with obesity are not present in the published literature as of April 2026. Body composition effects — increased lean mass, reduced visceral fat — are reported in clinical case series and off-label practice, but have not been established in adequately powered controlled trials targeting weight-management outcomes. Providers prescribing this combination do so based on the established GH secretagogue mechanism, pharmacokinetic data, and body-composition rationale rather than a direct weight-loss RCT evidence base.

AOD-9604: preclinical evidence only for weight loss

[Animal model only] AOD-9604's weight-loss evidence derives primarily from animal studies. Ng and colleagues, in a 2000 study in Hormone Research, conducted metabolic studies of AOD-9604 in mice, supporting its mechanism as a selective fat-mobilizing fragment of GH. A companion 2001 paper by Heffernan and colleagues in the International Journal of Obesity characterized chronic AOD-9604 treatment in obese mice and its effects on adipose tissue. Human phase 2 trials conducted by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals did not demonstrate statistically significant weight loss over placebo at the doses tested, according to company statements and conference proceedings; results have not been published in peer-reviewed form. No phase 3 human trial exists. The gap between preclinical lipolytic activity and demonstrated human efficacy is significant. AOD-9604 is not offered through Superpower's provider network.

Delivery Methods for Weight-Loss Peptide Therapies

Subcutaneous injection

The majority of weight-loss peptide therapies — including semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, and GH secretagogues — are administered by subcutaneous injection. Subcutaneous delivery allows stable absorption into the bloodstream while bypassing gastrointestinal enzymatic degradation that would inactivate most peptide structures if taken orally without specialized formulation. The weekly injection schedule of semaglutide and tirzepatide is a pharmacological feature of deliberate half-life engineering: fatty acid side-chain conjugation and albumin binding extend semaglutide's circulating half-life to approximately seven days. Providers or their clinical staff walk patients through first-use technique before self-administration begins.

Oral formulations

Oral semaglutide (Rybelsus, approved for type 2 diabetes; an investigational higher-dose oral semaglutide formulation under evaluation for obesity indication) uses SNAC (sodium N-(8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylate) as a permeation enhancer to allow absorption across the gastric mucosa. An oral semaglutide 50 mg weight-loss formulation was evaluated in the OASIS 1 trial by Knop and colleagues, published in The Lancet in 2023, which demonstrated clinically significant weight reduction in adults with overweight and obesity in a once-daily oral format. As of April 2026, the injectable formulations of semaglutide and tirzepatide remain the primary FDA-approved routes for weight management. Most compounded GH secretagogues are not bioavailable orally and are administered by injection.

Nasal spray and topical routes

No GLP-1 receptor agonist or GH secretagogue with established weight-loss evidence is currently available in an intranasal or topical formulation approved for weight management. Topical peptide products marketed for fat reduction are cosmetic formulations; they are regulated as cosmetics, not drugs, and have not been evaluated by the FDA for any therapeutic effect. Some compounding pharmacies produce intranasal GH secretagogue formulations, but bioavailability data for this route are limited compared with subcutaneous administration.

Safety and Side Effects

The safety profile of weight-loss peptide therapies varies substantially across the three evidence tiers covered in this article. FDA-approved GLP-1 agonists have detailed, well-characterized safety profiles from thousands of trial participants; GH secretagogues have more limited safety datasets; AOD-9604 has no comprehensive human safety database.

Common side effects (typically mild to moderate, dose-dependent):

• Nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal discomfort — the most frequently reported adverse events with GLP-1 receptor agonists; dose-dependent and typically most pronounced during dose escalation; present in approximately 40–50% of trial participants but leading to discontinuation in approximately 5–10% in major trials
• Constipation and diarrhea — documented across GLP-1 trial programs at rates higher than placebo; typically self-limiting
• Injection site reactions — local redness, bruising, or mild swelling; common in the first weeks of subcutaneous therapy; generally self-resolving
• Headache and fatigue — reported in the early weeks of GH secretagogue therapy; consistent with the transient GH pulse effect; typically resolves with continued use
• Transient water retention or peripheral edema — associated with GH-stimulating peptides; generally responds to dose adjustment

Less common but clinically important:

• Gallstone and biliary disease — a meta-analysis of 76 RCTs by He and colleagues, published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2022, found that GLP-1 receptor agonists are associated with increased gallbladder and biliary disease risk, particularly at higher doses and longer durations; a 2025 systematic review by Chiang and colleagues in Gastroenterology confirmed increased gallstone and GERD risk
• Acute pancreatitis — a rare but documented adverse event; GLP-1 labeling includes a warning; any persistent severe abdominal pain warrants immediate evaluation
• Impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance — GH secretagogues can reduce insulin sensitivity through GH-axis IGF-1 elevation; relevant fasting glucose and HbA1c monitoring is required before and during therapy
• IGF-1 elevation above reference range — associated with GH secretagogue therapy; requires baseline and follow-up IGF-1 monitoring; persistently elevated IGF-1 is a signal for dose review
• MTC and MEN2 (boxed warning) — GLP-1 receptor agonists carry a boxed warning for risk of thyroid C-cell tumors based on rodent data; contraindicated in patients with personal or family history of MTC or MEN2. Human relevance remains under investigation.

Risks specific to compounded and unregulated sources:

• Purity and contamination — independently tested research-grade peptide products have shown significant dose inaccuracies and contamination; these risks are substantially reduced — though not eliminated — when compounds are dispensed through state-licensed 503A pharmacies complying with USP <797> sterile compounding standards, using bulk substances sourced per 503A requirements, against a patient-specific prescription
• Unsupervised use of research-only compounds — research-use-only (RUO) labeled compounds, including AOD-9604 marketed as "research chemicals," are not legally intended for human administration. They have no established human dosing, no compiled human safety database, and no compounding pathway under 503A. Self-administration is outside authorized U.S. distribution channels.

When to contact your provider:

• Persistent severe nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain not resolving within one to two weeks of dose initiation or titration
• Signs of injection site infection: spreading redness, warmth, purulent discharge, or fever
• Any cardiovascular symptoms — chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations — particularly in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular risk
• Signs of hypoglycemia in patients with concurrent diabetes or insulin use
• Unexpected joint pain, severe edema, or visual changes — potential signals of GH-related adverse effects in secretagogue therapy

Side effects are typically managed through dose adjustment under the supervision of a licensed provider. The risk profile of any specific compound should be reviewed with a prescribing clinician before starting.

What to Test Before Starting Weight-Loss Peptide Therapy

Establishing a baseline biomarker profile before starting any weight-loss peptide therapy gives both patient and provider interpretable reference values for tracking response, detecting adverse signals, and adjusting therapy over time.

• HbA1c: Reflects average blood glucose over the prior 2–3 months. Essential before GLP-1 therapy — establishes whether a patient has prediabetes or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, which affects both candidacy and how the provider monitors glycemic response.
• Fasting glucose: Complements HbA1c as a snapshot of fasting blood sugar. GLP-1 agonists lower fasting glucose in metabolic responders; GH secretagogues can transiently raise it. Baseline value is needed to interpret either change.
• Fasting insulin: Assesses insulin resistance independently of glucose. Elevated fasting insulin with normal glucose — a pattern consistent with early insulin resistance — is common in the populations most likely to benefit from metabolic peptide therapy and is not detected by glucose alone.
• Triglycerides and full lipid panel: GLP-1 therapies improve lipid profiles in many responders, including reductions in triglycerides. Establishing a baseline allows providers to interpret lipid changes as part of metabolic response, not as a separate and unmonitored trend.
• ALT and liver enzymes: GLP-1 therapies reduce liver fat (hepatic steatosis) in many patients, but pre-existing liver disease may affect candidacy. Baseline liver enzymes give the provider context for any changes during therapy.
• IGF-1: Critical before starting any GH secretagogue therapy. Elevated baseline IGF-1 is a contraindication to compounds that further stimulate GH-axis activity. During therapy, IGF-1 rising into or above the upper reference range is the primary pharmacodynamic signal providers monitor.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): Hypothyroidism is a reversible cause of weight gain and treatment resistance; GLP-1 labeling includes a thyroid cancer warning requiring awareness of thyroid history. Establishing thyroid function before starting is standard clinical practice.
• Complete metabolic panel (CMP): Covers kidney function (creatinine, BUN), electrolytes, and hepatic markers in a single draw. GLP-1 therapies affect renal handling of sodium; reduced food intake during therapy can alter electrolytes. Baseline CMP is standard pre-therapy assessment.

For weight-loss peptide therapy, the most informative baseline markers span metabolic function: HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, a full lipid panel including triglycerides, and liver enzymes — with IGF-1 added for GH secretagogue evaluation. Establishing these values before starting makes any response, any adverse signal, and any dosing decision clinically interpretable rather than comparative to nothing.

What Your Labs May Show During Weight-Loss Peptide Therapy

For GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy, providers typically monitor HbA1c and fasting glucose — both trend downward in metabolic responders, with the magnitude of change reflecting the degree of baseline insulin resistance. Triglycerides often fall alongside weight reduction; lipid panels frequently improve across multiple parameters in sustained responders. Liver enzyme values — particularly ALT — may decrease as hepatic steatosis resolves, which is a documented secondary benefit of GLP-1 therapy. Gallbladder ultrasound may be considered in patients who develop biliary symptoms during treatment. For GH secretagogue therapy, IGF-1 is the primary pharmacodynamic marker: providers expect it to rise toward mid-range or slightly above the lower reference boundary in responders, and monitor for elevations above the upper limit that would signal a need for dose reduction. Fasting glucose and insulin are also monitored, given GH-axis effects on insulin sensitivity.

That principle — objective data before any clinical decision, and ongoing data to interpret response — is central to Superpower's approach to preventive health. Every therapy decision should begin with knowing where your biomarkers stand and continue with tracking how they respond.

Regulatory Status and Access for Weight-Loss Peptide Therapies

FDA approval status

As of April 2026, three injectable peptide therapies are FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management: semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly (Wegovy), tirzepatide (Zepbound), and liraglutide 3.0 mg (Saxenda). Their approved indications require a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related comorbidity. Semaglutide and tirzepatide have the most current evidence bases and are the primary compounds in active clinical use for weight management. Liraglutide remains available but has been largely superseded in clinical practice by the weekly agents. Tesamorelin is FDA-approved only for HIV-associated lipodystrophy; its use in non-HIV populations is not FDA-approved. CJC-1295, ipamorelin, and AOD-9604 are not FDA-approved for any indication. As of April 22, 2026, CJC-1295 (without DAC) and ipamorelin are additionally subject to an FDA PCAC recommendation against 503A inclusion.

Compounding access and 503A

As of April 2026, the FDA drug shortages for semaglutide and tirzepatide have been resolved. Under Section 503A's "essentially a copy" restriction (21 U.S.C. § 353a(b)(1)(D)), large-scale compounding of copies of FDA-approved semaglutide or tirzepatide is no longer permissible. Patient-specific compounding may remain lawful only where a prescriber documents a clinical difference meaningful to the identified patient (e.g., a documented allergy to an excipient in the FDA-approved product) — an exception that is narrowly interpreted and not a general access pathway. Compounding by 503B outsourcing facilities is constrained by a separate "essentially a copy" standard under Section 503B(d)(2), which applies regardless of shortage status except in the narrow patient-specific exceptions FDA has identified. Branded FDA-approved products remain available through licensed prescribers. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved and have not been evaluated for safety or efficacy equivalence to the branded products (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro); clinical trial efficacy data from the FDA-approved products should not be assumed to apply to compounded formulations.

CJC-1295 (without DAC) and ipamorelin were the subject of an April 22, 2026 FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) recommendation against inclusion on the 503A bulk drug substances list. While 503A compounding against a patient-specific prescription remains technically available at pharmacies where the bulk substance meets 503A requirements, access is narrowing pending FDA's final determination. CJC-1295 with DAC has a less settled 503A status and may not be uniformly available. Patients evaluating these compounds should confirm current availability directly with their licensed provider and the prescribing pharmacy. Tesamorelin was transitioned to biologic regulation on March 23, 2020 under the "deemed-to-be-a-license" provision of the BPCIA (enacted 2010), so it cannot be lawfully compounded under Section 503A; only the FDA-approved Egrifta product is legally available. AOD-9604 has not been included in the FDA's PCAC-reviewed bulk drug substances for 503A compounding and has no established legal compounding pathway.

Superpower's tirzepatide program is not available in New York, New Jersey, California, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, or Louisiana.

Cost and insurance framing

FDA-approved GLP-1 agonists prescribed for their approved weight-management indications may qualify for insurance coverage with prior authorization; eligibility varies significantly by plan, and coverage for obesity medications has historically been inconsistent across commercial insurers. Medicare Part D currently excludes drugs indicated primarily for weight management. HSA and FSA accounts may be used for prescribed weight-loss peptide therapies as qualifying medical expenses. Compounded peptide formulations — including compounded GH secretagogues — are typically not covered by insurance. Cost varies by compound, formulation, dosage, and whether branded or compounded. A licensed provider team can assist with prior authorization documentation for FDA-approved agents. The evaluation process through a licensed provider includes a clinical consultation and relevant baseline lab work.

How to Evaluate a Provider for Weight-Loss Peptide Therapy

Access to weight-loss peptide therapy through a qualified provider is what separates a clinically supervised approach from the gray market. A credible provider should offer a full clinical evaluation before prescribing, order relevant baseline laboratory work, have a monitoring plan that includes follow-up labs, and source compounded peptides exclusively through licensed 503A pharmacies. They should be capable of distinguishing which compounds have FDA-approved weight-loss indications and which are off-label, and they should communicate those distinctions clearly before prescribing.

Questions to ask before starting with any provider:

• Do you require baseline lab work before prescribing? Which markers do you assess?
• Is this compound FDA-approved for weight management, or is the use off-label? If off-label, what is the evidence base?
• How will you monitor my response, and how often will we check labs during therapy?
• Which compounding pharmacy do you use? Is it licensed by its state board of pharmacy, operating under Section 503A, and compliant with USP <797> for sterile preparations (and ideally PCAB-accredited)?
• What is the plan if I want to discontinue therapy — are there tapering considerations?
• How do you handle side effects that emerge during therapy?

Superpower connects members with licensed providers who evaluate candidacy, prescribe where appropriate, and monitor response through ongoing lab work. For evaluation through Superpower's provider network, check eligibility for GLP-1 candidacy assessment. Prescribing decisions are made by licensed providers based on individual clinical evaluation.

Important Safety Information

This page discusses multiple compounds with varying FDA approval statuses. Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide are FDA-approved prescription medications for weight management. Tesamorelin is FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only. It was transitioned to biologic regulation on March 23, 2020 under the "deemed-to-be-a-license" provision of the BPCIA (enacted 2010) and cannot be lawfully compounded under Section 503A; only the FDA-approved Egrifta product is legally available. CJC-1295, ipamorelin, and AOD-9604 are not FDA-approved for any indication. As of April 22, 2026, CJC-1295 (without DAC) and ipamorelin are additionally subject to an FDA PCAC recommendation against 503A inclusion. Uses discussed outside FDA-approved indications are off-label. Off-label prescribing is permitted under the practice of medicine but has not been evaluated or endorsed by the FDA.

GLP-1 receptor agonists carry an FDA boxed warning for risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), based on rodent data. Human relevance is uncertain. Contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or MEN2. Do not use if you have a history of serious hypersensitivity to semaglutide, tirzepatide, or liraglutide. GLP-1 therapies have been associated with acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, acute kidney injury, and heart rate increase; potential psychiatric adverse events including suicidal ideation have been investigated by regulators without an established causal link to date. Tell your provider about all medications and medical conditions before starting.

Growth hormone secretagogues may elevate IGF-1 and impair glucose tolerance; baseline and ongoing monitoring is required. Not for use in patients with active malignancy, pregnancy, or poorly controlled diabetes without close provider supervision.

AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved for any use, is not offered through Superpower, and lacks an established human safety database. No compound discussed on this page should be self-administered without evaluation and prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

Full prescribing information for Wegovy (semaglutide) is available at DailyMed. Full prescribing information for Zepbound (tirzepatide) is available at DailyMed. Full prescribing information for Egrifta (tesamorelin) is available at DailyMed. Superpower does not prescribe — Superpower connects members with licensed providers who evaluate candidacy, prescribe where appropriate, and monitor response through ongoing lab work.

Disclaimer: This page discusses multiple compounds with varying FDA approval statuses. Some compounds mentioned may not be FDA-approved for human use. Superpower Health offers some but not all compounds discussed. See individual compound pages for specific availability and regulatory status. This content is for educational and informational purposes only.