Category: AMH

Different varieties and doses of GLP-1 medications can have meaningful differences in how they address heart and metabolic health issues, according to new research led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Through the analysis of data from 19 randomized controlled trials, the researchers believe their work points to possible precision medicine applications of GLP-1s beyond just weight loss. Their work was published in Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism.

“We hope that clinicians are encouraged by this study to take a more comprehensive and individual approach to treatment selection,” said senior author Yong Chen, PhD, a professor of Biostatistics at Penn. “For patients, the key message is that there may not be a single ‘best’ GLP-1 therapy for everyone, and it all could really depend on what their individual goals and needs are.”

A new measure showing individual differences

Conducted by researchers from Pennsylvania, the Yale School of Medicine, and UT Southwestern Medical Center, the analysis pulled information from trials totaling 13,117 overweight participants and used a measure the researchers developed for assessing  heart and metabolic health called the Cardiometabolic Efficacy Index (CEI). Randing on a scale of 0 to 1—with values closer to 1 showing a greater treatment effect— the CEI factors in seven different data points: Body weight, waist circumference, HbA1c (blood sugar levels), systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol.

The researchers saw that, across all therapies, the higher-dose GLP-1 receptor agonists generally demonstrated greater cardiometabolic improvements. Semaglutide injections at 7.2mg achieved the highest CEI (0.86), followed by orforglipron 36mg (0.68), and injected semaglutide at 2.4mg (0.66). All of them delivered placebo-adjusted weight reductions of at least 10 percent of the participants body weight, on average.

But there were distinct differences across the therapies in individual datapoints in the CEI.

Orforglipron showed stronger effects on blood sugar control, HDL cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure, while semaglutide showed larger effects on total body weight, waist circumference, and LDL cholesterol.

Oral medications vs. injectables

GLP-1 therapies taken orally performed competitively against injectable ones. In adults without type 2 diabetes, orforglipron 36mg demonstrated a comparable cardiometabolic profile to oral semaglutide 25mg (CEI 0.67 vs. 0.63). In adults with type 2 diabetes, orforglipron ranked second overall, behind injected semaglutide 7.2mg and ahead of semaglutide 2.4mg.

“Oral options may expand access and offer more flexibility, which could play an important role in long-term treatment adherence and individualized care,” said Yu-Lun Liu, co-author of the study and Associate Professor of Biostatistics at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

On top of these findings, a dose-response relationship was observed for both semaglutide and orforglipron, suggesting that higher doses may deliver broader cardiometabolic effects.

Moving beyond weight loss

The analysis provides timely evidence for a field increasingly focused on the full metabolic burden of obesity rather than weight reduction alone.

“As obesity treatment becomes increasingly personalized, clinicians are often choosing among several highly effective therapies rather than deciding whether to treat at all,” said co-author Yuan Lu, Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Penn “Considering blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose control together could be key to aligning with each patient’s overall, individualized cardiometabolic profile.”

Three focal points for the future

Chen identified a collection of priorities for the next phase of GLP-1 research and obesity care.

First, he said obesity treatment should increasingly focus on improving overall health—not just reducing weight alone. As the field evolves, evaluating therapies across broader cardiometabolic health domains—as well as other body systems—will be critical to understanding the full benefit of GLP-1s.

Second, Chen said the development of new multidimensional tools such as the Cardiometabolic Efficacy Index (CEI) may help move the field toward more personalized treatment selection.

Third, he noted that oral GLP-1 therapies are emerging as strong and competitive options that could expand treatment choice. As more oral agents enter clinical practice, they may improve accessibility, adherence, and flexibility for patients, making individualized obesity care more achievable in real-world settings. These options should be observed and analyzed, the researchers said.

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About Penn Medicine: Penn Medicine is one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, excellence in patient care, and community service.

The organization consists of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Penn’s Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the nation’s first medical school.

Oh!Nutrition, a California-based nutritional product development company, has released company survey findings from more than 500 Oh!mino users taking GLP-1 medications, with 88 percent reporting maintained strength and 92 percent reporting improved recovery. The release comes as concern over GLP-1 muscle loss is reshaping how people approach weight management and nutrition during dieting. Clinical research summarized by the American Diabetes Association indicates that lean body mass can account for roughly 25 to 40 percent of total weight lost during GLP-1 therapy. Oh!mino® Muscle Synthesis Activator delivers all nine essential amino acids in a patented ratio in a single scoop and is positioned as an option for essential amino acid intake when reduced appetite makes full meals or protein shakes harder to consume. Read more about GLP-1s here.

Lean body mass can account for roughly 25 to 40 percent of total weight lost during GLP-1 therapy, according to clinical research summarized by the American Diabetes Association. A 2025 meta-analysis in the journal Obesity, reviewing nine randomized controlled trials, found lean mass represented an average of 30.8 percent of total weight lost. While some of that lean mass reflects organ and fluid changes rather than skeletal muscle alone, the data has intensified focus on muscle loss while dieting and the role of nutrition in addressing it.

The challenge is compounded by how these medications work. GLP-1 drugs reduce appetite, which can make reaching daily protein and essential amino acid targets harder even as the body’s need for muscle support remains. The American Diabetes Association reports that use of incretin-based therapies, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, rose 587 percent over the past five years, placing muscle preservation in front of a rapidly expanding population.

Essential amino acids are the components the body uses to drive muscle protein synthesis, the process responsible for maintaining and rebuilding muscle tissue. Oh!mino® Muscle Synthesis Activator, developed by California-based Oh!Nutrition, delivers all nine essential amino acids in a patented ratio in a single scoop. Because the formula is zero-calorie and requires no additional food, it offers a route to essential amino acid intake that does not depend on a full meal or protein shake — a consideration for those eating less.

“People on these medications are doing the hard work of changing their health, and the science is clear that muscle is part of that conversation. We did not build Oh!mino specifically for GLP-1 users, but it fits the exact gap they face. When appetite drops, getting essential amino acids without forcing down another shake becomes genuinely useful. It supports muscle maintenance alongside proper nutrition and training.”

— Michael Maynard, Founder and CEO, Oh!Nutrition

In a company survey of more than 500 Oh!mino users taking GLP-1 medications, 88 percent reported maintained strength and 92 percent reported improved recovery. These figures reflect self-reported customer experience, not the result of a clinical trial.

Oh!mino® is vegan, non-GMO, keto-compatible, and contains no added sugar. It is manufactured in an NSF-certified, FDA-licensed facility operating under current Good Manufacturing Practices, and is available in stimulant-free and caffeinated formats. A 30-day, 110 percent money-back guarantee is included with every purchase.

Oh!mino® Muscle Synthesis Activator is available on Oh!mino’s website.

About Oh!mino

Oh!Nutrition is a California-based nutritional product development company founded in 2008. With nearly 35 years of experience in dietary supplement formulation, Founder and CEO Michael Maynard established Oh!Nutrition on a commitment to evidence-based product development. Oh!mino® is the company’s flagship brand, built around a patented essential amino acid complex clinically studied for muscle protein synthesis, recovery, and performance support.

If you have been looking through wellness content these days, you have probably seen mentions of peptides come up more than once. Maybe it was a content creator or a celebrity who swears by them for better skin, faster muscle recovery, anti-aging support or weight loss.

Peptides are not new, even if they seem like the latest wellness trend. Your body naturally makes thousands of peptides every day, and some peptide-based medications have been used in medicine for years. But many newer injectable peptides being marketed lately have limited research, unclear safety information or often exaggerated claims.

Before you start wondering if you are missing out on something, let’s answer the question lots of people are asking: What are peptides? And more importantly, are they a safe option for you?

What are peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are small molecules often called the building blocks of protein.

Proteins help your body:

• Grow and repair tissues
• Fight infection
• Carry out important functions like digestion and muscle movement

Peptides are similar to proteins but are much smaller, which allows them to act quickly in the body.

Peptides are a fundamental part of how your body runs, found in many tissues, organs and cells, with a wide range of jobs. Some peptides work like messengers, telling your cells what to do, while others help control or direct certain processes in your body.

Recently, scientists have learned how to create synthetic versions of these peptides in a lab, and that is where the wellness world has taken notice. Some of these synthetic peptides mimic the ones your body produces naturally, while others are designed to trigger specific responses, like signaling your body to produce more growth hormone or to reduce your appetite.

What are peptides used for?

Peptides are used in several areas of medicine, health and wellness. Their purpose depends on the specific type of peptide. You may see peptides marketed for the following uses:

• Weight loss
• Blood sugar management
• Muscle recovery and growth
• Anti-aging support
• Skin and hair health
• Sleep and energy support
• Sexual wellness
• Gut health
• Hormone balance
• Reducing inflammation

It’s important to understand that not all these uses have strong scientific evidence behind them. Some peptide treatments are well studied and approved for medical use, while others are experimental or still lacking in long-term safety data.

What are the different types of peptides?

There are different types of peptides, and they vary in how they work and how much research supports them.

Collagen peptides

Collagen peptides are oral supplements commonly found in powders, drinks and supplements marketed for skin, hair, nails and joint support. Collagen is a protein naturally found in your skin, bones and connective tissues. These peptides are broken into smaller pieces that are easier for the body to absorb. Some studies suggest collagen supplements may help improve skin elasticity and hydration, joint health and bone density, though results can differ from person to person.

GLP-1 peptides

GLP-1 medications, like semaglutide and tirzepatide, are prescription peptides used for blood sugar management and weight loss. These medications work by mimicking a natural hormone that helps regulate your appetite, slowing stomach emptying and improving blood sugar control. These are FDA-approved, heavily studied and manufactured under strict quality control. Because GLP-1s affect important body systems, they should be used under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider.

Injectable peptides

This category is generating quite a bit of interest right now. These are synthetic peptides, often marketed and sold by online compounding pharmacies or wellness clinics, promoted for a variety of health-related goals like:

• Muscle growth
• Fat loss
• Better sleep
• Faster injury recovery
• Anti-aging

Unlike GLP-1 medications, research on many of these injectable peptides is limited without clear information about quality, purity or long-term safety.

What is the difference between peptides and GLP-1s?

One reason peptides can feel confusing is that GLP-1 medications are peptides too. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, which is a hormone your body naturally releases after eating. It helps regulate blood sugar, slows digestion and helps you feel full longer. Medications that mimic this hormone are commonly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes and weight management.

GLP-1s are one type of peptide within a much larger category of peptides that all work differently in the body. Because GLP-1s for weight loss have become more widely discussed, some people assume all peptides work the same way or offer similar benefits for weight loss. That is not always the case.

GLP-1 medications have been studied extensively in large clinical trials and have strong evidence supporting their use for certain people. Other injectable peptides marketed online for weight loss may not have the same level of research, regulation or safety oversight. Some products can make broad claims without strong scientific evidence behind them.

Weight management is also highly personal. A peptide treatment that may help you may not be appropriate for someone else. Your health history, medications, lifestyle and weight loss goals all play a role in deciding whether a peptide-based treatment makes sense for you.

Are peptides safe?

The answer to this important question depends on the peptide, how it is sourced, how it is administered and your individual health picture.

One challenge is that the word “peptide” can make very different products sound similar. A collagen powder, a prescription GLP-1 medication and an injectable peptide sold through a wellness website may all fall under the peptide category, even though they carry very different levels of evidence and oversight.

Collagen peptides taken orally are considered safe for most people. GLP-1 medications have some known side effects, like nausea and digestive changes, but they have been thoroughly studied and their risk profiles are well understood.

The injectable peptides marketed through wellness channels can be a different conversation. Even when a product is promoted as “natural” or “wellness-focused,” that does not automatically mean it is safe for everyone. Several factors make these peptides harder to evaluate from a safety standpoint:

• Purity and potency: Without regulatory oversight, there is no guarantee that what is on the label matches what is in the vial.
• Limited long-term data: Most human studies on these peptides are small, short-term or focused on specific populations like athletes or people with injuries. Long-term effects are still largely unknown.
• Self-administration risks: Injecting anything without medical supervision carries risks ranging from infection to dosing errors.
• Interactions with other medications or conditions: Since many of these newer peptides have not been studied broadly, how they interact with your specific health history is not yet fully understood.

This doesn’t mean every wellness peptide is harmful. Some do have preliminary research suggesting potential benefits for gut health and injury recovery. But “preliminary” is the key word here.

Questions to ask before trying peptides

When wellness trends move quickly online, it can be hard to separate marketing from science. Some peptide products are promoted with dramatic before-and-after photos or broad promises about reversing aging, melting fat or boosting performance.

It can also help to remember that more expensive does not always mean more effective. Some peptide products marketed through wellness spaces can cost hundreds of dollars per month without strong evidence to support their use.

Before trying any peptide product, pause and ask yourself the following questions. They can help you sort through hype versus evidence.

• Has this peptide been studied in humans?
• Is it approved for medical use?
• Who is selling it?
• Are the claims realistic?
• Is there medical supervision involved?
• Could it interact with medications or health conditions you already have?

Talk to your healthcare provider about peptides

If you are curious about peptides and seriously considering trying them, a conversation with your doctor is always a smart first step. This is especially true if any of the following apply to you:

• You are managing a chronic condition or taking prescription medications.
• You are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.
• You have a history of hormone-sensitive conditions.
• You are considering injecting anything without the guidance of a licensed provider.
• You are unsure whether what you are buying is legitimate, pharmaceutical-grade or compounded appropriately.

Your doctor can help you separate what has real evidence behind it from what is marketing and guide you toward options that are appropriate for where you are in your health and wellness journey right now.

Are peptides the right choice for you?

Peptides are not a trend, and as interest in peptides continues to grow, staying curious and informed can help you make decisions that fit your health goals and comfort level. Some peptides, like GLP-1 medications and collagen supplements, have solid evidence and clear regulatory standing. Others, like many of the injectable peptides circulating in wellness communities, are still being studied and marketed ahead of the science and findings.

Before trying a new peptide product, take the time to ask the right questions, understand what the evidence really says and talk to your doctor

People taking GLP-1 medications for type 2 diabetes (liraglutide, semaglutide, or tirzepatide) may be more likely to stop and later restart treatment than many people realize, according to research presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

The study examined two questions that have received limited attention so far.

“Our study asked two questions that haven’t been well answered until now: How many people with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 medications actually stop using them? And how many restart them?” said Sainikhil Sontha, M.S., a research associate at Boston University School of Public Health in Boston, Mass.

GLP-1 Discontinuation Rates in Type 2 Diabetes

“Using insurance records from more than 60,000 Americans with type 2 diabetes, we found that about 4 in 10 patients stopped their GLP-1 medication within the first year, and nearly 6 in 10 had stopped by the end of two years,” Sontha said.

The researchers also uncovered a more encouraging trend.

“More than half of those who stopped restarted therapy within a year (41.5%), and nearly two-thirds did so within two years (58%),” Sontha said. “This suggests that for many patients, these medications aren’t being abandoned permanently; use is more start-and-stop than most people assumed.”

To better understand what influences treatment patterns, the researchers used Cox proportional hazards models and examined sociodemographic, clinical and provider-level factors.

Who Is More Likely To Stop GLP-1 Medications?

According to the findings, people covered by Medicaid or Medicare, Black patients, and those who experienced nausea or other gastrointestinal side effects (37%) were more likely to discontinue a GLP-1 medication within the first year.

The study also found that patients whose first GLP-1 prescription came from an endocrinologist were 10% less likely to stop treatment.

Newer GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Better Persistence

Medication type also appeared to make a difference.

People taking newer GLP-1 drugs such as tirzepatide were 41% less likely to discontinue treatment than those using older medications such as liraglutide. Users of semaglutide were 28% less likely to discontinue anti-obesity medication use compared with people taking older drugs.

Why Staying on GLP-1 Therapy Matters

“This research matters because consistent use of these medications is what produces their protective effects,” Sontha said. “Stopping early may mean missed opportunities to prevent heart attacks, kidney disease progression and other complications.”

Researchers say the results may help healthcare providers, insurers and policymakers identify patients who could benefit from additional support to remain on GLP-1 therapy over time, Sontha said.

Story Source: The Endocrine Society