Peptides for Weight Loss and Muscle Gain: Body Recomposition Evidence Review

Key Takeaways

• Compounds covered: Semaglutide, tirzepatide, tesamorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, AOD-9604, bimagrumab (investigational, non-peptide)
• Goal area: Simultaneous fat loss and lean-mass preservation or gain (body recomposition)
• Evidence range: Phase III RCT body-composition data (semaglutide, tirzepatide, tesamorelin); Phase II investigational recomposition data (bimagrumab); Phase I pharmacokinetics only (CJC-1295, ipamorelin); animal studies (AOD-9604)
• Regulatory range: FDA-approved (semaglutide, tirzepatide for weight management; tesamorelin for HIV lipodystrophy); not FDA-approved (CJC-1295, ipamorelin, AOD-9604); investigational (bimagrumab)
• Key biomarkers for recomposition: IGF-1, fasting insulin, HbA1c, total and free testosterone, triglycerides, hs-CRP
• As of April 2026: No single FDA-approved compound produces both fat loss and muscle gain simultaneously in published Phase III human trials. The closest pharmacological approach is bimagrumab, currently investigational.
• Bottom line: GLP-1 agonists have the strongest fat-loss evidence and produce fat-dominant weight loss, but include lean-mass loss requiring diet and exercise mitigation; GH-axis peptides offer theoretical muscle-sparing fat loss but lack recomposition efficacy trials.

Understanding Body Recomposition: The Biology

Body recomposition describes the simultaneous reduction of fat mass and increase or preservation of lean mass. It is metabolically demanding because the dominant pathways are in tension: fat loss requires a catabolic metabolic state that tends to also consume lean tissue, while muscle gain requires an anabolic state with adequate protein and energy availability. Most weight-loss interventions produce some degree of lean-tissue loss alongside fat loss — the ratio varies by intervention, dietary composition, exercise load, and individual metabolic phenotype.

The biology of recomposition intersects three hormone-regulated axes. The GLP-1 receptor agonist pathway drives fat-dominant weight loss through appetite suppression and metabolic normalization — visceral fat and metabolically active fat depots are preferentially mobilized, but lean mass is not fully protected when caloric deficit is steep. The GH/IGF-1 axis directly stimulates visceral fat lipolysis while supporting anabolic signaling in skeletal muscle through IGF-1-mediated protein synthesis pathways — making GH-axis stimulation theoretically better suited for recomposition than appetite-driven caloric restriction. The myostatin/activin pathway limits skeletal muscle growth — blockade of this pathway with compounds like bimagrumab can unlock muscle mass gains while GLP-1-driven fat loss is occurring, producing simultaneous recomposition in investigational trials.

The practical challenge is that the best-evidenced approaches are either FDA-approved for specific clinical populations (tesamorelin in HIV lipodystrophy) or investigational (bimagrumab). The compounds with the most established FDA-approved pathway and strongest general weight-loss evidence — GLP-1 receptor agonists (Wegovy, Zepbound, and their diabetes-indication branded equivalents) — are not specifically designed for muscle sparing. This creates the evidential gap that most "recomposition peptide" searches are trying to navigate: the question is not which compounds theoretically sound best, but which have published human evidence for the body-composition ratio the searcher cares about.

Peptides Studied for Recomposition: A Quick Comparison

The following compounds have published evidence relevant to simultaneous fat loss and lean-mass outcomes. They are listed by strength of body-composition evidence.

• Compound: Semaglutide
  • Mechanism for recomposition: GLP-1 receptor agonism — fat-dominant weight loss; lean-mass proportion improves relative to fat despite absolute lean-mass decrease
  • Evidence: Phase III RCT (STEP 1 — Wilding 2021 NEJM: body-composition shift favoring fat-mass loss relative to lean mass)
  • FDA status: FDA-approved as Wegovy for weight management; as Ozempic for T2DM
  • SP availability: May be available through Superpower's licensed provider network following clinical evaluation for eligibility, as the FDA-approved branded product for its FDA-approved indication
  • Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: Tirzepatide
  • Mechanism for recomposition: Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonism — 75% fat mass / 25% lean mass ratio in body-composition substudy
  • Evidence: Phase III RCT body-composition substudy (SURMOUNT-1: ~75% fat mass of total weight lost)
  • FDA status: FDA-approved as Zepbound for weight management; as Mounjaro for T2DM
  • SP availability: May be available through Superpower's licensed provider network following clinical evaluation for eligibility, as the FDA-approved branded product for its FDA-approved indication
  • Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: Tesamorelin
  • Mechanism for recomposition: GHRH analog — visceral fat lipolysis via GH axis with published evidence of muscle density preservation in responders
  • Evidence: Phase III RCT (HIV lipodystrophy — visceral fat as primary endpoint; truncal muscle density increase in responders on secondary analysis)
  • FDA status: FDA-approved as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only; general recomposition use is off-label; biologic — cannot be compounded
  • SP availability: Not currently available through Superpower
  • Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: CJC-1295
  • Mechanism for recomposition: GHRH analog — sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation; proposed anabolic and lipolytic effects via GH axis
  • Evidence: Phase I pharmacokinetics only; no body-composition efficacy trials
  • FDA status: Not FDA-approved; FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance — not eligible for 503A compounding
  • SP availability: Not currently available through Superpower
  • Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: Ipamorelin
  • Mechanism for recomposition: Selective GH secretagogue — stimulates GH without ACTH/cortisol elevation; proposed anabolic and lipolytic effects
  • Evidence: Animal pharmacology; Raun et al. 1998 (rat, selectivity data); no human body-composition efficacy trials
  • FDA status: Not FDA-approved; FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance — not eligible for 503A compounding
  • SP availability: Not currently available through Superpower
  • Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: Bimagrumab (investigational)
  • Mechanism for recomposition: Anti-activin receptor type II antibody — blocks myostatin/activin pathway to simultaneously reduce fat mass and increase lean mass
  • Evidence: Phase II RCT (Heymsfield et al. 2021 — 20.5% fat-mass reduction + lean-mass increase at 48 weeks in T2DM/obesity)
  • FDA status: Investigational; not FDA-approved for any indication
  • SP availability: Not available through Superpower
  • Route: Intravenous (investigational protocol)

Compounds listed as "research-only" or "investigational" have not completed the clinical trial process required for FDA approval. They are not legal to prescribe or sell for human use in the US for these indications. Their inclusion here is for educational context only.

Peptides Studied for Recomposition: Individual Profiles

The body-composition evidence for compounds commonly discussed in recomposition contexts varies enormously — from Phase III DEXA substudy data to Phase I pharmacokinetics to animal studies. The profile structure below makes those distinctions explicit.

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist (Ozempic for T2DM, Wegovy for weight management). Among compounds with Phase III body-composition data, it has among the most substantial published reductions in fat mass. The STEP 1 trial by Wilding and colleagues, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021, reported that semaglutide 2.4 mg produced substantial weight loss with a body-composition shift favoring loss of fat mass relative to lean mass. However, absolute lean mass decreased alongside the fat loss. A canonical review of GLP-1 mechanism by Drucker published in Cell Metabolism in 2018 established that appetite suppression and gastric emptying delay explain the sharp reduction in caloric intake that drives this body-composition change. A systematic review by Bikou and colleagues in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy in 2024 found semaglutide-induced lean-mass loss ranges from near-zero to 40% of total weight lost, depending on protein intake and resistance training. [Phase III RCT body-composition substudy] Semaglutide is FDA-approved as Wegovy for chronic weight management. May be available through Superpower's licensed provider network following clinical evaluation for eligibility, dispensed as the FDA-approved branded product for its FDA-approved indication. Superpower does not compound or dispense compounded semaglutide. Weight regain after discontinuation is documented: the STEP 4 withdrawal trial by Rubino and colleagues published in JAMA in 2021 found that participants who stopped semaglutide regained 6.9% of body weight over 48 weeks following switch to placebo, while those who continued lost an additional 7.9%. Clinical decisions about duration of therapy are individual and are made between a patient and their prescriber based on FDA-approved labeling, response, tolerability, and comorbidities.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist (Mounjaro for T2DM, Zepbound for weight management) with the most favorable fat-to-lean ratio in published Phase III body-composition data. In the SURMOUNT-1 body-composition substudy published by Look and colleagues in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in 2025, approximately 75% of total weight lost was fat mass and 25% lean mass, consistent across demographic subgroups in a 73%-female cohort. [Phase III RCT body-composition substudy] The SURMOUNT-4 withdrawal trial by Aronne and colleagues in JAMA in 2024 found tirzepatide continuation maintained prior weight loss in 89.5% of participants while withdrawal produced approximately 14% regain. Tirzepatide is FDA-approved as Zepbound for chronic weight management. May be available through Superpower's licensed provider network following clinical evaluation for eligibility, dispensed as the FDA-approved branded product for its FDA-approved indication. Superpower does not compound or dispense compounded tirzepatide. A 2025 review in Current Nutrition Reports by Memel and colleagues found lean-mass loss of 15 to 40% across GLP-1 studies and recommends high-protein diet plus resistance training as mitigation — equally applicable to tirzepatide.

Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin is a stabilized GHRH analog (Egrifta) with the strongest published evidence for fat loss with muscle preservation among approved compounds. In Phase 3 HIV-lipodystrophy trials, tesamorelin reduced visceral fat by approximately 15% at 26 weeks (Falutz 2007 NEJM) and about 18% at 52 weeks (Falutz 2010 JAIDS) via GH/IGF-1 axis stimulation. Critically for recomposition: an analysis by Adrian and colleagues published in the Journal of Frailty and Aging in 2019 found tesamorelin responders showed increased density and area of four truncal muscle groups on CT imaging — providing direct evidence for fat loss with concurrent muscle preservation or gain in Phase III responders. [Phase III RCT + secondary analysis] A 2014 JAMA trial by Stanley and colleagues showed tesamorelin reduced visceral fat by 34 cm² and liver fat while the 2007 Falutz and colleagues NEJM trial demonstrated 15.2% visceral fat reduction with IGF-I rising 81% — the GH/IGF-1 axis changes that support muscle preservation. Tesamorelin is FDA-approved as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only. Its use for general body recomposition is off-label and not FDA-approved. Under the BPCIA transition effective March 23, 2020, tesamorelin was deemed a biologic, and § 503A does not permit compounding of biological products. Not currently available through Superpower.

CJC-1295

CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog with extended half-life via drug affinity complex technology. A Phase I pharmacokinetic study by Teichman and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2006 demonstrated 2 to 10-fold GH elevation and 1.5 to 3-fold IGF-1 elevation persisting 6 or more days after a single injection in 52 healthy adults — establishing the pharmacokinetic basis for its proposed recomposition mechanism. GH and IGF-1 elevation stimulate visceral fat lipolysis and anabolic signaling in skeletal muscle via established GH-receptor biology. A historical reference by Khorram and colleagues published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 1997 showed sustained GH/IGF-1 responses in older men and women with long-term [Nle27]GHRH(1-29)-NH2, a GHRH analog structurally related to sermorelin, providing a safety reference for the GHRH analog class. [Phase I pharmacokinetics; no body-composition efficacy data] CJC-1295 is not FDA-approved for any indication and is not on the FDA's § 503A bulk drug substances list. The FDA has classified CJC-1295 as a Category 2 bulk drug substance (significant safety risk), meaning the agency does not intend to exercise enforcement discretion for its use in pharmacy compounding. Some compounding pharmacies have historically prepared CJC-1295, but this practice is not a sanctioned 503A pathway. The Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline by Molitch and colleagues in 2011 frames GH/GHRH-axis therapy as guideline-recommended only for diagnosed GH deficiency. No recomposition efficacy trials have been published. Its use for body recomposition has not been approved by the FDA; safety and efficacy for this use have not been established through adequate and well-controlled clinical trials. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, GH-releasing peptides including CJC-1295 are prohibited in sport.

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is a selective GH secretagogue — it stimulates GH release from the pituitary without elevating ACTH or cortisol, which distinguishes it from earlier GH secretagogues like GHRP-6 that produce adrenal axis side effects. A discovery paper by Raun and colleagues in the European Journal of Endocrinology in 1998 characterized ipamorelin as a selective GH secretagogue without cortisol or prolactin elevation in rats. A study by Svensson and colleagues published in the Journal of Endocrinology in 2000 found ipamorelin and GHRP-6 increased bone mineral content in adult female rats, suggesting anabolic effects relevant to the recomposition question — though this is animal data. [Animal pharmacology / in vitro; no human body-composition efficacy data] Ipamorelin is not FDA-approved for any indication and is not on the FDA's § 503A bulk drug substances list. FDA classified ipamorelin as a Category 2 bulk drug substance, and the agency does not intend to exercise enforcement discretion for its use in pharmacy compounding. Superpower does not offer or facilitate access to ipamorelin. No human recomposition efficacy trials have been published. Its use for body recomposition has not been approved by the FDA; safety and efficacy for this use have not been established in humans. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, GH-releasing peptides including ipamorelin are prohibited in sport.

AOD-9604

AOD-9604 is a synthetic hGH C-terminal fragment studied for fat-metabolism effects in preclinical models. A study by Heffernan and colleagues published in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders in 2001 showed AOD-9604 increased fat oxidation and reduced weight gain in obese mice. [Animal study; Phase 2b human trial failed primary endpoint] AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved and is classified by FDA as a Category 2 bulk drug substance, meaning the agency does not intend to exercise enforcement discretion for its compounding. It is not eligible for 503A compounding in the United States. Not available through Superpower or licensed channels. Its Phase 2b human obesity trial failed to demonstrate efficacy versus placebo. Inclusion is for educational context only.

Bimagrumab (investigational)

Bimagrumab is not a peptide but is the most clinically advanced pharmacological approach to true simultaneous recomposition — fat reduction with muscle gain. It blocks activin receptor type IIA and IIB, inhibiting myostatin and activin, the primary molecular brakes on muscle growth. A Phase 2 RCT by Heymsfield and colleagues published in JAMA Network Open in 2021 found bimagrumab produced 20.5% fat-mass reduction and increased lean mass over 48 weeks in adults with T2DM and obesity. [Phase II RCT] A study by Nunn and colleagues in Molecular Metabolism in 2024 found that activin receptor II antibody blockade preserves skeletal muscle mass and enhances fat loss during GLP-1 agonism, suggesting a combination approach may produce additive recomposition effects. Bimagrumab is investigational and not FDA-approved for any indication. Not available through Superpower. This compound is not a peptide and is discussed here for recomposition context only.

Regulatory Status at a Glance

As of April 2026, the compounds discussed in this article carry the following regulatory statuses relevant to body recomposition.

• Semaglutide: FDA-approved as Wegovy (weight management) and Ozempic (T2DM). Body-composition data from Phase III substudy. Superpower dispenses the FDA-approved branded product and does not offer compounded semaglutide.
• Tirzepatide: FDA-approved as Zepbound (weight management) and Mounjaro (T2DM). Body-composition data from Phase III substudy. Superpower dispenses the FDA-approved branded product and does not offer compounded tirzepatide.
• Tesamorelin: FDA-approved as Egrifta for HIV-associated lipodystrophy only. Biologic under BPCIA — cannot be compounded under Section 503A. Recomposition use is off-label and not FDA-approved.
• CJC-1295: Not FDA-approved; FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance — not eligible for 503A compounding. No recomposition efficacy data. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, prohibited in sport.
• Ipamorelin: Not FDA-approved; FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance — not eligible for 503A compounding. No human recomposition efficacy data. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, prohibited in sport.
• AOD-9604: Not FDA-approved; FDA Category 2 bulk drug substance — not eligible for 503A compounding. Human efficacy trial failed. Not legally available.
• Bimagrumab: Investigational; not FDA-approved. Not available by prescription. Not a peptide — included for recomposition context only.

Considerations When Combining Compounds for Recomposition

The "recomposition" goal draws attention specifically because people want to know which compounds can be used together — a question that involves more clinical complexity than most roundup articles acknowledge. The term "stacking" is used colloquially but is not appropriate clinical language; the correct framing is whether combining or sequencing compounds is appropriate for a given individual's clinical picture.

Direct comparison between these compounds is not methodologically valid — they have been studied in different populations, at different doses, with different endpoints. A provider cannot ethically or safely recommend a combination protocol without evaluating the individual's full metabolic panel, current medications, comorbidities, and baseline GH-axis function.

Mechanism compatibility: GLP-1 receptor agonists and GH-axis compounds target different pathways with different primary effects. A GLP-1 agonist drives appetite-mediated caloric deficit; a GHRH analog stimulates GH-axis-mediated visceral fat lipolysis. These mechanisms are not redundant. A provider may evaluate whether both pathways are relevant given an individual's metabolic profile — but that is a clinical determination, not a protocol recommendation.

Evidence base for combination: No published Phase II or III trial has evaluated the combination of a GLP-1 receptor agonist with a GH secretagogue for recomposition outcomes. The investigational bimagrumab-plus-GLP-1 approach is the only published combination data. Extrapolating from separate single-compound trials to predict combination outcomes is unreliable.

Lean-mass mitigation through non-pharmacological means: A 2023 network meta-analysis by Shen and colleagues in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, pooling 42 RCTs involving 3,728 participants, found that combined resistance, aerobic, and balance training produced the most effective body-composition and quality-of-life outcomes for sarcopenia — the non-pharmacological parallel to the recomposition goal. A meta-analysis by Chen and colleagues in the European Review of Aging and Physical Activity in 2021 found resistance training improved body fat mass, grip strength, and functional measures in older adults with sarcopenia. Pharmacological fat-loss compounds combined with structured resistance training and adequate dietary protein represent the evidence-supported co-intervention framework, not compound combinations alone.

Sarcopenic obesity risk: A 2025 review by Prokopidis and colleagues in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging framed sarcopenic obesity — the coexistence of excess fat and inadequate lean mass — as a particular concern during GLP-1 therapy in older adults. This is especially relevant for any recomposition protocol that includes a potent fat-loss compound.

This is not an exhaustive list of clinical considerations. A licensed provider will evaluate individual health history, current medications, and baseline biomarker data before discussing any compound or combination.

Safety Considerations

Safety profiles across these compounds vary substantially. For GLP-1 receptor agonists, the class safety profile includes gastrointestinal effects during dose titration, the FDA Boxed Warning (21 CFR § 201.57(c)(1)) for thyroid C-cell tumors based on rodent data, and the lean-mass loss risk that is particularly significant in any recomposition context where muscle preservation is a goal. A rodent study by Bjerre Knudsen and colleagues in Endocrinology in 2010 identified thyroid C-cell tumor development with GLP-1 receptor agonists in rodents — the basis for the FDA class Boxed Warning. For GH-axis compounds, the primary safety considerations include IGF-1 elevation (tesamorelin's FDA-approved labeling contraindicates use in active malignancy and includes cautions for hormone-sensitive conditions; analogous mechanism-based considerations apply to unapproved GH secretagogues in clinical use), fluid retention, and potential insulin-antagonizing effects of sustained GH stimulation. Ipamorelin's selectivity for GH without cortisol or ACTH elevation is a pharmacological advantage relative to earlier GH secretagogues. For athletes subject to anti-doping rules, GH secretagogues carry prohibition status.

Contraindications that apply broadly to recomposition peptide therapy include:

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 — contraindicated for GLP-1 receptor agonists per FDA labeling
• Active or history of malignancy — GH-axis peptides carry theoretical concern regarding IGF-1-mediated proliferative signaling
• Pregnancy — reproductive safety not established for any compound in this list; GLP-1 agonists should be discontinued at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy per FDA labeling
• Active pancreatitis — associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists in post-marketing reports
• Uncontrolled diabetes or insulin resistance — GH stimulation can transiently worsen insulin sensitivity in metabolically vulnerable individuals
• Competitive athletes subject to anti-doping testing — GH secretagogues (CJC-1295, ipamorelin) are prohibited under the 2026 WADA Prohibited List (Section S2.2, peptide hormones)

For compound-specific side effect profiles, see the individual compound pages linked above.

What to Test Before Starting Peptides for Body Recomposition

Regardless of which compound you and your provider discuss, baseline biomarker testing establishes a measurable starting point. Without it, there is no objective way to assess whether a compound is producing the expected physiological changes — or whether those changes are beneficial. For recomposition specifically, the baseline must characterize both the fat-loss metabolic context and the muscle-relevant hormonal context.

• IGF-1: The primary downstream marker of GH axis activity. Testing IGF-1 before starting is essential if GH-axis compounds are being considered, and provides the baseline for interpreting any GH-axis changes during therapy. Age-adjusted IGF-1 context is relevant — GH-axis function declines with age, and deficiency versus normal-range values changes the clinical picture.
• Fasting insulin: Characterizes insulin resistance, the metabolic driver that GLP-1 agonists address. Testing fasting insulin before starting establishes whether the GLP-1 mechanism is most appropriate for an individual's primary metabolic driver of fat accumulation.
• HbA1c: A 90-day blood glucose average reflecting insulin regulation. HbA1c testing is both an eligibility marker for FDA-approved GLP-1 indications and a response biomarker relevant to metabolic normalization during recomposition therapy.
• Triglycerides: A cardiovascular metabolic marker sensitive to visceral fat changes. Testing triglycerides at baseline provides a response marker for both the fat-loss and metabolic normalization effects of any compound in this list.
• hs-CRP: Systemic low-grade inflammation is elevated in visceral adiposity and worsened by insulin resistance. Testing hs-CRP at baseline documents the inflammatory context before any intervention, and tracks the anti-inflammatory response to fat loss over time.
• Total and free testosterone: Relevant to lean-mass and recomposition outcomes. Testing total testosterone and free testosterone establishes whether androgen status is a confounding factor in lean-mass preservation, particularly in men and women with PCOS.
• Comprehensive metabolic panel: Liver enzymes (ALT, AST), kidney function, and electrolytes provide the safety baseline required for monitoring during any pharmacotherapy course involving GLP-1 or GH-axis compounds.

IGF-1, fasting insulin, HbA1c, triglycerides, hs-CRP, and testosterone collectively frame the metabolic and hormonal context for any recomposition evaluation. The body composition biomarker guide provides additional context for interpreting these markers. Body composition assessment — DEXA scan or validated BIA — at baseline documents the actual fat-to-lean ratio before any intervention, which is the only way to objectively measure whether recomposition is occurring. Testing at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months gives changes a timeline to interpret.

Access and Regulatory Pathways

All compounds discussed here require a prescription for legal access, with the exception of bimagrumab which is investigational and not available. FDA-approved compounds — semaglutide and tirzepatide for weight management — have Phase III evidence for weight-management indications; their access pathway is through a licensed provider. Tesamorelin (Egrifta) is available only as the FDA-approved biologic for its specific HIV-lipodystrophy indication. CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are not FDA-approved and are not on FDA's § 503A bulks list (both are Category 2). There is no sanctioned 503A compounding pathway for these compounds in the United States. Any provider or pharmacy offering them is operating outside FDA's enforcement-discretion framework. Superpower dispenses semaglutide and tirzepatide only for their FDA-approved indications through its licensed provider network — body composition data presented here is educational context, not a promoted off-label use.

A provider evaluation for any recomposition compound should include baseline lab work (the markers above), body composition documentation, health history, current medications, and an honest discussion of evidence level. The gap between Phase III RCT data (semaglutide, tirzepatide) and Phase I pharmacokinetics (CJC-1295) is substantial — a provider will factor that into the informed consent conversation.

Products marketed online for muscle gain or recomposition that contain GH secretagogues or other peptides outside licensed pharmacy channels lack pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing oversight. The risks of contamination, incorrect dosing, and misidentified compounds in gray-market injectables are documented and separate from any theoretical mechanism of action.

Understanding Your Baseline

Recomposition is a measurable goal — but only if the starting point is documented. IGF-1, fasting insulin, HbA1c, and a body composition scan at baseline transform the recomposition conversation from a theoretical discussion about which compound sounds best to an objective tracking of what is actually changing in your metabolism. The data is what makes a provider's interpretation of response meaningful, and it is what distinguishes a productive clinical relationship from trial and error.

That principle is central to Superpower's biomarker testing approach to preventive health. Whether the conversation with your provider leads to an FDA-approved GLP-1 agonist, a GH-axis compound, or a structured diet-and-training-first approach, the starting point is the same: knowing where your biomarkers stand.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Semaglutide is an FDA-approved prescription medication available as Wegovy (weight management) and Ozempic (type 2 diabetes). Superpower dispenses the FDA-approved branded product and does not offer compounded semaglutide. Contraindications: personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma; multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2; known hypersensitivity. Warnings: thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents (human relevance unknown); pancreatitis; hypoglycemia with insulin or sulfonylureas; acute kidney injury; hypersensitivity reactions; diabetic retinopathy; suicidal ideation. Common side effects: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain. Not for use in type 1 diabetes. Discontinue at least 2 months before planned pregnancy.

Tirzepatide is an FDA-approved prescription medication available as Zepbound (weight management) and Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes). Superpower dispenses the FDA-approved branded product and does not offer compounded tirzepatide. Contraindications and warnings similar in class to semaglutide above. Common side effects: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, injection-site reactions.

Tesamorelin is FDA-approved as Egrifta for the treatment of lipodystrophy in patients with HIV. Uses outside the approved indication, including body recomposition, are off-label. Because tesamorelin is classified as a biologic under federal law (BPCIA, 2020), it cannot be lawfully produced through pharmacy compounding under Section 503A. Only the FDA-approved product, Egrifta, is legally available in the United States. Off-label prescribing of the approved product is permitted under the practice of medicine but has not been evaluated or endorsed by the FDA for body recomposition.

CJC-1295 is not FDA-approved for any indication and is not on the FDA's § 503A bulk drug substances list. FDA has classified CJC-1295 as a Category 2 bulk drug substance, and the agency does not intend to exercise enforcement discretion for its use in pharmacy compounding. There is no sanctioned 503A compounding pathway for CJC-1295 in the United States. Safety, efficacy, appropriate dosing, and long-term effects have not been established through adequate and well-controlled clinical trials for body recomposition. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, CJC-1295 is classified as a prohibited substance in sport. Superpower does not currently offer or facilitate access to CJC-1295.

Ipamorelin is not FDA-approved for any indication and is not on the FDA's § 503A bulk drug substances list. FDA has classified ipamorelin as a Category 2 bulk drug substance, and the agency does not intend to exercise enforcement discretion for its use in pharmacy compounding. There is no sanctioned 503A compounding pathway for ipamorelin in the United States. Safety, efficacy, appropriate dosing, and long-term effects have not been established through adequate and well-controlled clinical trials for body recomposition. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, ipamorelin is classified as a prohibited substance in sport. Superpower does not currently offer or facilitate access to ipamorelin.

AOD-9604 is not FDA-approved for any indication and is classified by FDA as a Category 2 bulk drug substance, meaning the agency does not intend to exercise enforcement discretion for its compounding. It is not eligible for 503A compounding in the United States. The Phase 2b human obesity trial did not meet its primary endpoint. Superpower does not offer or facilitate access to AOD-9604.

Bimagrumab is an investigational drug currently under clinical development and has not been approved by the FDA, or any other regulatory authority, for any medical use. Bimagrumab is not a peptide. It is not lawfully available through compounding pharmacies in the United States. Bimagrumab is not prescribed, compounded, or dispensed through Superpower. This section is provided for educational purposes only.

Full FDA-approved prescribing information at dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.

Disclaimer: This article discusses multiple compounds with different regulatory statuses. Some are FDA-approved for specific indications; others are available through compounding; some are investigational or not approved for human use. Superpower Health facilitates access to some but not all compounds discussed through licensed healthcare providers. This educational content is editorially independent.