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Peptides are having a moment — for weight loss, recovery, sleep, energy and healthy aging. But "peptides" is a category, not a product, and the one that helps a 52-year-old with a stubborn midsection is not the one that helps a runner rehab a hamstring. Start with your goal, not the compound.
Take the 2-minute peptide quiz → Read the guide firstA short quiz from ellieMD's clinical team that maps your goals and symptoms to a recommended protocol — reviewed by a licensed provider before anything is prescribed.
Free to take. No obligation. Adults 18+.
A peptide is a short chain of amino acids — a mini-protein. Your body already runs on them: insulin, growth-hormone-releasing hormone and the gut hormone GLP-1 are all peptides. Therapeutic peptides are lab-made versions of those signals, designed to nudge one system — appetite, tissue repair, growth-hormone release, sleep, sexual response — rather than blanket the whole body. That specificity is why they're popular and also why choosing the right one matters.
The best-known peptides today are the GLP-1 medications (semaglutide, tirzepatide). Beyond weight loss there's a wider menu that clinics group by goal:
GLP-1 / GIP agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) reduce appetite and improve insulin response; AOD-9604 and MOTS-c are marketed for fat metabolism. Best paired with a DEXA or body-composition scan so you can confirm you're losing fat, not muscle.
See if a weight-loss peptide fits →BPC-157 and TB-500 are the compounds most often used for soft-tissue recovery, tendon and gut-lining support. Athletes and people rehabbing nagging injuries are the typical fit.
See if a recovery peptide fits →Sermorelin, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin (often combined) and tesamorelin prompt your own growth-hormone release — used for deeper sleep, recovery, lean mass and, with tesamorelin, visceral fat.
See if a GH peptide fits →NAD+ (a coenzyme, usually grouped with peptides), epithalon and thymosin alpha-1 are used for cellular energy, immune support and healthy-aging protocols.
See if a longevity peptide fits →PT-141 (bremelanotide) works on the brain's desire pathways rather than blood flow, and is used by both men and women.
See if PT-141 fits →GHK-Cu (copper peptide) is used topically and by injection for skin quality, wound healing and hair support.
See if GHK-Cu fits →Weight, recovery, sleep, energy, longevity, sexual health or skin — most people have one primary goal and one secondary.
Age, sex, activity level, current medications and conditions that rule certain compounds in or out.
A recommended protocol — compound, form and typical duration — with the reasoning, not just a product name.
A licensed clinician reviews before anything is prescribed; if approved, it ships from a licensed U.S. pharmacy.
Take the quiz — Longevity With a Purpose →
Yes — semaglutide and tirzepatide are peptides that mimic gut hormones (GLP-1, and for tirzepatide GIP) to reduce appetite and improve blood-sugar handling. When clinics say "peptide therapy" they usually mean the other compounds on this page, but the quiz covers both.
Prescription peptides obtained through a licensed clinician and a licensed compounding pharmacy are legal in the U.S. Buying injectable "research" peptides online without a prescription is a different situation and is not something we recommend.
GLP-1s have large clinical trials behind them and well-characterized side effects (mostly GI). Many recovery and longevity peptides have far less human data, which is exactly why a clinician should match the compound to you and monitor. Never combine or dose from an online forum.
Most are small subcutaneous injections (insulin-style needles); some are nasal sprays, oral capsules or topical creams. Your protocol spells out form, dose and schedule.
Appetite effects from GLP-1s show up in days; growth-hormone peptides usually take 4–8 weeks (sleep first, then body composition); recovery peptides are typically run in 4–8 week cycles.
No — the quiz is free and doesn't obligate you to anything. If a protocol is recommended and you choose to proceed, pricing is shown before provider review.
DEXA is the gold standard for fat, muscle and visceral fat. Find a scan near you on DEXASCAN.COM, or use our Michigan clinic directory for providers who offer both scans and peptides.
Two minutes, a few honest answers, and a recommendation you can take to a clinician — or start with ellieMD's provider team right away.
Take the peptide quiz Find a peptide clinic near meEducational content, not medical advice. Peptide protocols require evaluation and prescription by a licensed clinician; compounded medications are not FDA-approved. WeightLossNearMe.com may earn a referral fee when you complete a purchase through ellieMD.