Peptides have become one of the hottest topics in medicine, weight loss, fitness, and longevity—but the word “peptide” actually describes a massive category of molecules, not one specific drug.

In this episode of The Wellness Blueprint, Dr. Caleb Davis and Nicole Davis start with the fundamentals: what peptides are, how they work, and why many peptide medications have to be injected.

Then we dive into the drugs almost everyone has heard about—Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, semaglutide, tirzepatide, and other GLP-1 medications.

We discuss how GLP-1s influence appetite, digestion, insulin, food cravings, and weight loss; their potential benefits for diabetes and cardiovascular health; and the side effects and unanswered questions that come with them.

Nicole also shares her own experience trying semaglutide and the severe gastrointestinal symptoms that caused her to stop.

We also discuss an increasingly important issue: losing weight isn't necessarily the same thing as improving health. Rapid weight loss can include loss of muscle and potentially bone mass, making adequate nutrition, protein intake, resistance training, and medical supervision especially important.

Finally, Dr. Davis explains how these issues intersect with orthopedic surgery, nutrition, wound healing, and surgical risk.

This is Part 1 of our peptide series. In Part 2, we'll explore experimental and “gray market” peptides frequently discussed for recovery, bodybuilding, longevity, skin health, and performance.

Educational content only. This podcast does not constitute medical advice.