Peptides have exploded. In January 2026 alone, peptide-related searches in the U.S. reached about 10.1 million, according to one analysis of Google search data. [1] Searches for peptides have even overtaken searches for the most famous weight-loss drug in America. [2]
They’re all over social media. They’re debated on podcasts. They’re passed around gyms. And far too often, they’re promoted with far more confidence than the evidence supports.
The hype has to be separated from the science. That’s the only way you can make a smart, informed decision. So let’s dig in: what peptides actually are, what GLP-1 peptides can do, how I use them in my practice, and, just as important, how I don’t.
What are peptides, really?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the same building blocks that make up proteins. Your body makes many of its own. A number of prescription medications are peptides, too.
Here’s the distinction that matters most. A few peptides have gone through rigorous clinical trials. Many of the popular peptides promoted online have not.
How do I use peptide therapy at Apollo Health Clinic?
As a naturopathic physician, my job is to find and address the root causes of your symptoms, not just chase them. Before we add anything, we look at what to subtract: the dietary, lifestyle and environmental factors that may be holding your health back.
Peptides are one tool in my toolbox. They are never the whole plan.
For the right patients, a peptide medication can be part of a larger plan that includes nutrition, movement, sleep, stress and everything else we work on together. Peptide medications are only available to patients enrolled in one of my programs, after a full evaluation. No shortcuts.
What is tirzepatide, and how does it work?
Tirzepatide is the peptide medication my patients ask about most. It belongs to the family of medications commonly called GLP-1s. More precisely, it acts on two hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1, which are involved in regulating appetite and blood sugar.
For the right patients, I may prescribe tirzepatide as part of my 10-Week Metabolic Reset. It is never the only piece of the plan.
Depending on what is appropriate for you, a prescription may be for a brand-name medication or a compounded medication prepared by a licensed pharmacy. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and we will talk through your options before anything is prescribed.
What are the benefits of weight loss peptides like tirzepatide?
Brand-name tirzepatide medications are FDA-approved to:
- Help adults with obesity, or with overweight and at least one weight-related health condition, lose excess weight and keep it off long term, along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity
- Treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity
- Improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise
That’s backed by a large and growing body of research. In the SURMOUNT-5 trial, 751 adults with obesity were randomly assigned to tirzepatide or semaglutide, another GLP-1 medication, for 72 weeks. [3] A study in JAMA Internal Medicine followed more than 18,000 matched adults with overweight or obesity treated across U.S. health systems. [4] And a second real-world study followed nearly 2,400 adults without diabetes over six months. [5] If you want to dig into the science, I encourage you to read them yourself.
A few things worth knowing:
- These studies used brand-name products, so their findings should not be assumed to apply to compounded medications.
- The SURMOUNT-5 trial and the second real-world study were funded by Eli Lilly, which makes brand-name tirzepatide medications. [3] [5]
- No study can predict your individual results.
- In the JAMA study, more than half of patients stopped their medication during follow-up. [4] That is exactly why medication is never the whole plan in my practice.
How do I combine GLP-1 peptides with lifestyle medicine?
A GLP-1 medication can be a powerful tool. But in my practice, it never stands alone. My approach combines it with the foundations of lifestyle and naturopathic medicine. For the right patients, that plan can include:
- Body composition testing, before and after. Weight loss can come from muscle as well as fat. So I recommend a body composition scan before starting a GLP-1 and again after a period of treatment, either a DEXA scan, a low-dose X-ray scan that measures body fat, lean muscle and bone, or an InBody scan, which estimates body composition. That way, we track what is actually changing in your body, not just the number on the scale. Body composition scans are not included in program fees. Patients typically pay for them directly at a local scan location.
- Exercise and resistance training. For patients who can move comfortably and without pain, I recommend regular exercise, including weight training or other resistance training, tailored to your body, your experience and your goals. If pain or an old injury limits how you move, we start there first.
- Nutritional medicine. A personalized nutrition plan built around adequate protein, fiber and whole foods, designed around your goals and how your body responds.
- Targeted supplements, when appropriate. Depending on your needs, I may recommend nutritional supplements aimed at supporting gut health and energy. Supplements are always optional, and we will discuss the reasoning behind any recommendation.
- Sleep and stress. How you sleep and how you handle stress shape how your body responds to any treatment.
- Other therapies as needed. Including continuous glucose monitoring and other naturopathic therapies that fit your individual plan.
The goal isn’t just a smaller number on the scale. It’s a stronger, healthier body, built on habits that last.
Who qualifies for GLP-1s and peptide therapy?
Let me be straight with you: peptide medications are not right for everyone.
Your health history matters. For example, tirzepatide isn’t used in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or a condition called MEN 2.
Every medication carries side effects, too. With tirzepatide, digestive symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation are common. We will review the full picture, risks included, before any prescription.
If a peptide isn’t a fit for you, that is not a dead end. There are many other tools we can use to support your health.
Is Apollo Health Clinic a peptide shop or pharmacy?
No. Apollo Health Clinic is a naturopathic medicine clinic. We are not an online peptide dispensary or pharmacy.
I don’t sell peptides on this website, and you can’t order them here. Any prescription is filled by a licensed pharmacy, and only after an evaluation and a decision we have made together.
Is BPC-157 FDA-approved? The latest peptide news
If you follow health news, you have likely seen the headlines about BPC-157 and other popular peptides. Here is what actually happened.
In July 2026, an FDA advisory committee recommended BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, Epitalon and Semax for the list of substances pharmacies may use in compounding, and voted against emideltide (DSIP). [6] The vote on BPC-157 was close: 8 in favor, 6 against, with one abstention. [7] That vote was advice to the FDA. In late October 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services announced an interim policy allowing certain state-licensed pharmacies and licensed physicians to compound these six peptides under set conditions while formal rulemaking continues. This is a temporary enforcement policy, not an FDA approval. [8]
For now, none of these peptides are FDA-approved medications. I will keep this page updated as the story unfolds.
Can I get peptide therapy by telehealth in Arizona, Montana or Washington?
Yes, if you qualify. I see adults across Arizona, Montana and Washington by secure video and phone visits. No commute, no waiting room. For the right patients, after a full evaluation, tirzepatide may be part of the 10-Week Metabolic Reset.
See the 10-Week Metabolic Reset
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Telemedicine care for adults in Arizona, Montana and Washington.