Fat Loss
Research compounds studied for their role in appetite regulation, lipolysis, and metabolic function. Includes GLP-1 agonists, GH fragments, and GH secretagogues.
Most researched for Fat Loss
Semaglutide
The most extensively studied compound in this category with the largest clinical trial dataset. A GLP-1 receptor agonist that reduces appetite by slowing gastric emptying and signaling satiety to the brain. Weekly dosing and distinct mechanism from other compounds here make it the most commonly referenced starting point.
Ibutamoren
aka MK-677, MK-677, Nutrobal
How it works: Selectively binds GHSR-1a; stimulates pituitary GH and IGF-1; oral bioavailability; ~24h action
GH and IGF-1 elevation; muscle mass; recovery; sleep quality; anti-aging
Dosage range
10-25 mg, Once daily (oral)
Administration
Oral
Timing
Evening (aligns with GH pulse and sleep)
Cycle length
8–12 wks on; 4–8 wks off; long-term use debated
Liraglutide
aka Victoza, Saxenda
How it works: GLP-1R agonism in pancreas (insulin/glucagon), hypothalamus (satiety), gut (gastric emptying); once-daily vs once-weekly for semaglutide
Type 2 diabetes (Victoza); obesity/weight management (Saxenda)
Dosage range
0.6-3 mg, Once daily (SubQ); titrate over 5 weeks
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Once daily any time (consistent)
Cycle length
Chronic maintenance
Semaglutide
aka Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
How it works: Mimics GLP-1 hormone to slow gastric emptying and reduce appetite signals in the brain.
Type 2 diabetes (Ozempic); chronic weight management (Wegovy)
Dosage range
0.25-2.4 mg, Once weekly (SubQ); Rybelsus: 3–14 mg oral daily
Administration
SubQ (Ozempic/Wegovy); Oral (Rybelsus)
Timing
Once weekly (SubQ); morning 30 min before food (oral)
Cycle length
Chronic; titration: 0.25 mg ×4 wk → 0.5 → 1 → 1.7 → 2.4 mg
CJC-1295 (without DAC) / Modified GRF 1-29
aka CJC-1295 no DAC, Mod GRF 1-29, GHRH(1-29)
How it works: Extends and amplifies the GH pulse by stimulating GHRH receptors, combining with GHRPs for stronger GH release.
GH pulse stimulation (combined with GHRP); body recomposition; sleep; recovery
Dosage range
100-300 mcg, 1–3×/day (combined with GHRP)
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Pre-bed (15 min before sleep); or pre-workout; ALWAYS with GHRP
Cycle length
8–16 wks on; 4–6 wks off
Tirzepatide
aka Mounjaro, Zepbound, LY3298176
How it works: Activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors simultaneously, producing stronger appetite suppression than single-receptor agonists.
Type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro); obesity/weight management (Zepbound)
Dosage range
2.5-15 mg, Once weekly (SubQ)
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Once weekly any time
Cycle length
Chronic; titration: 2.5 mg ×4 wk; +2.5 mg q4wk to max 15 mg
Sermorelin
aka GHRH(1-29)
How it works: Binds pituitary GHRH receptor; stimulates natural pulsatile GH release; shorter half-life than modified GRF 1-29 analogs
GH stimulation; body composition; sleep; anti-aging (clinic use)
Dosage range
100-500 mcg, Once daily pre-bed
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Pre-bed on empty stomach
Cycle length
8–16 weeks
GHRP-2
aka Pralmorelin, KP-102
How it works: Binds GHSR-1a; stimulates strong GH release; also elevates cortisol and prolactin (unlike selective ipamorelin); short acting
Strong GH pulse stimulation; body composition; recovery
Dosage range
100-300 mcg, 1–3×/day
Administration
SubQ / IM
Timing
Pre-bed or pre-workout
Cycle length
8–12 wks on; 4 wks off
CJC-1295 with DAC
aka CJC-1295 DAC, Drug Affinity Complex CJC-1295
How it works: Binds GHRH receptor; DAC linker covalently bonds to plasma albumin → ~6–8 day half-life; produces tonic GH elevation rather than physiological pulsatile release
Sustained GH/IGF-1 elevation; body composition; anti-aging; less frequent dosing
Dosage range
1-2 mg, Once or twice per week
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Any time (long half-life)
Cycle length
8–12 weeks
AOD-9604
aka hGH Frag 177-191
How it works: Mimics the fat-metabolizing region of growth hormone without affecting insulin or blood glucose.
Fat loss; lipolysis; metabolic enhancement
Dosage range
250-500 mcg, Once daily AM fasted
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Morning fasted 30 min before food
Cycle length
12–16 weeks
hGH Fragment 176-191
aka hGH Frag 176-191, AOD hGH frag
How it works: Isolates the lipolytic region of growth hormone, promoting fat breakdown without IGF-1 stimulation.
Fat loss; lipolysis; anti-obesity
Dosage range
250-500 mcg, Once daily AM fasted
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Morning fasted 30 min before food
Cycle length
12–16 wks
Tesamorelin
aka Egrifta, TH9507
How it works: A GHRH analog with FDA approval for visceral fat reduction in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
Visceral fat reduction (FDA-approved HIV lipodystrophy); GH/IGF-1 elevation; body composition
Dosage range
1-2 mg, Once daily SubQ
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Morning before breakfast preferred
Cycle length
12–16 weeks (FDA protocol); off-label: longer
5-Amino-1MQ
aka 5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium, 5A1MQ
How it works: Inhibits NNMT enzyme → increases 1-methylnicotinamide and SAM availability → promotes fat cell differentiation arrest and lipolysis; increases NAD+ precursors; reverses some metabolic disease markers in animal models
Fat loss (particularly visceral); metabolic rate increase; NAD+ pathway support
Dosage range
50-150 mg, Once daily (oral)
Administration
Oral
Timing
Any time
Cycle length
8–12 weeks
Tesofensine
aka NS2330, TE-0911
How it works: Inhibits reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in CNS; reduces appetite and increases satiety; also increases metabolic rate; more potent weight loss than most non-GLP-1 compounds
Significant weight loss via appetite suppression and metabolic rate increase
Dosage range
0.25-1 mg, Once daily (oral)
Administration
Oral
Timing
Morning
Cycle length
12–24 weeks
Orforglipron
aka LY3502970
How it works: Non-peptide small molecule agonist of GLP-1R; oral bioavailability; once-daily oral vs weekly injectable; same downstream pathway as semaglutide
Obesity; T2D — without injection
Dosage range
12-120 mg, Once daily (oral)
Administration
Oral
Timing
Once daily with or without food
Cycle length
Chronic; titration per protocol
Mazdutide
aka IBI362
How it works: GLP-1R + GcgR dual agonism; glucagon receptor adds energy expenditure and hepatic fat mobilization beyond pure GLP-1; once-weekly
Obesity; metabolic syndrome; NAFLD/NASH; weight loss
Dosage range
2-9 mg, Once weekly (SubQ)
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Once weekly any time
Cycle length
Titration per protocol
Sermorelin + Ipamorelin
aka Combo, Sermorelin + Ipamorelin Clinic Combination
How it works: Sermorelin stimulates GHRH receptor; Ipamorelin stimulates ghrelin receptor; combined 2–3× GH pulse vs either alone; same mechanism as CJC-1295 no DAC + Ipa but uses Sermorelin (older GHRH analog)
GH axis optimization via two-compound synergistic protocol; body composition; sleep; anti-aging
Dosage range
200-300 mcg each, Pre-bed daily or 5 on/2 off
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Pre-bed 15–30 min; 2h fast preferred
Cycle length
8–16 wks on; 4–6 wks off
AICAR
aka Acadesine, Acadesine, AICA-riboside
How it works: Phosphorylated intracellularly to ZMP → activates AMPK → exercise-like metabolic adaptations: fatty acid oxidation, insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial biogenesis, anti-inflammation
Metabolic conditioning; fat oxidation; endurance enhancement; AMPK activation
Dosage range
250-500 mg, Daily
Administration
Oral / SubQ
Timing
Pre-workout or morning
Cycle length
4–8 wks; WADA prohibited in competition
Irisin
aka FNDC5 ectodomain, exercise myokine
How it works: Released from muscle FNDC5 cleavage after exercise; promotes WAT browning (UCP-1 upregulation → thermogenesis); upregulates hippocampal BDNF; osteogenic; anti-obesity; anti-Alzheimer's (preclinical)
White fat browning; thermogenesis; metabolic rate; cognitive enhancement; anti-aging
Dosage range
500-1000 mcg, 3×/week
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Any time or pre-workout
Cycle length
8–12 weeks
Retatrutide
aka LY3437943
How it works: Simultaneous GLP-1R + GIPR + GcgR agonism; GcgR adds energy expenditure and lipolysis beyond dual agonists; highest weight-loss efficacy of any peptide in human trials to date
Obesity treatment; weight management; maximal fat loss
Dosage range
2-12 mg, Once weekly (SubQ)
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Once weekly any time
Cycle length
Titration: 2 mg ×4 wk → 4 → 8 → 12 mg per tolerance
Cagrilintide
aka AM833, OIC-02
How it works: Binds amylin receptors in hypothalamus; reduces appetite via different pathway than GLP-1; slows gastric emptying; suppresses glucagon; complements GLP-1 agonism for additive weight loss
Weight loss (combination with semaglutide in CagriSema); satiety; glycemic control
Dosage range
0.16-4.5 mg, Once weekly (SubQ)
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Once weekly any time
Cycle length
Chronic; titration per protocol
Adipotide
aka CKGGRAKDC-GG-D(KLAKLAK)2
How it works: Binds prohibitin on blood vessels supplying white adipose; D(KLAKLAK)2 disrupts mitochondria → apoptosis of fat-supplying vasculature; highly targeted in animal models
Highly targeted fat loss by destroying blood supply to adipose tissue (research only)
Dosage range
Administration
Research only
Timing
Research only
Cycle length
Research only
Hexarelin
aka Examorelin, EP-23905
How it works: Binds GHSR-1a; also binds CD36 scavenger receptor (cardioprotective independent mechanism); most potent GHRP but rapid desensitization with daily use
Strongest GH pulse of any GHRP; body composition; potential cardiovascular protective effects
Dosage range
100-200 mcg, 1–2×/day MAX; discontinue if no response after 4 wks
Administration
SubQ / IM
Timing
Pre-workout or pre-bed
Cycle length
4–8 wks; 4–8 wks off mandatory
Follistatin-315
aka FST-315
How it works: Binds and neutralizes myostatin (GDF-8) and activin A; removes brake on muscle growth; FST-315 preferentially distributes to peripheral tissues (FST-344 prefers circulation); potent but limited human data
Muscle hypertrophy; fat loss; anti-catabolic; potential anti-aging via muscle preservation
Dosage range
100-200 mcg, Twice weekly
Administration
SubQ / IM
Timing
Post-workout
Cycle length
4–8 weeks; 4+ weeks off
Follistatin-344
aka FST-344
How it works: Binds/neutralizes myostatin (GDF-8) and activin A; full-length 344 circulates systemically; exon 6 heparin-binding domain anchors to cell surfaces; greater FSH/reproductive effects than FST-315
Muscle hypertrophy; fat loss; anti-catabolic — more systemic than FST-315
Dosage range
100-200 mcg, 2×/week
Administration
SubQ / IM
Timing
Post-workout
Cycle length
4–8 weeks; 4+ weeks off
CJC-1295 + GHRP-6
aka Bulk Stack, CJC-1295 no DAC + GHRP-6 combination
How it works: CJC-1295 no DAC stimulates GHRH receptor; GHRP-6 stimulates ghrelin receptor + induces strong hunger; combined 2–3× GH pulse; GHRP-6 hunger effect helps caloric surplus for bulk goals
Maximum GH pulse for bulking; muscle mass; strong appetite stimulation — useful for hard gainers
Dosage range
200-300 mcg each, Pre-bed; or pre-workout for bulking push
Administration
SubQ
Timing
Pre-bed or pre-workout; 2h fast before
Cycle length
8–12 wks on; 4 wks off
Example stacks
Fat Loss - Beginner
A clean single-compound starting point. AOD-9604 targets fat breakdown directly without the complexity of a full GH stack.
- • Inject fasted - 2-3 hrs after last meal
- • Stay in a caloric deficit
- • Give it 6+ weeks before assessing
Fat Loss - Intermediate
Combines appetite suppression via semaglutide with targeted lipolysis from AOD-9604. Two different mechanisms working together.
- • Titrate semaglutide slowly - increase every 4 weeks if tolerated
- • Stay well hydrated throughout
- • Track muscle mass alongside body weight
Community outcome data
Collected from users researching this goal. Not a clinical database - for general reference only.
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