# Sermorelin for weight loss: does it work?
Updated November 3, 2026. Canonical: https://try-astra.com/sermorelin/guides/weight-loss/

**Sermorelin at Astra:** $91/mo on the 6-month plan ($546 every 6 months) or $120/mo on the monthly plan. Includes medication, provider visit, supplies and shipping. Full refund if a provider does not prescribe. Pay by card or Apple Pay, or over time with Klarna, Afterpay or Affirm at checkout. Prescription required. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. [Start a visit](https://start.try-astra.com/start-online-visit/sermorelin).

## The short answer

**If weight loss is your main goal, GLP-1 medications are the better place to start, because sermorelin is not an established weight loss treatment.** Body weight did not change in the adult studies we reviewed. Astra offers both: [compounded tirzepatide](/compound-tirzepatide/) from $118/mo and [compounded semaglutide](/compound-semaglutide/) from $68/mo on 12-month plans. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and a licensed provider decides what suits you.

## Choose by your goal

- **Main goal is weight loss.** Look at [compounded tirzepatide](/compound-tirzepatide/) or [compounded semaglutide](/compound-semaglutide/), which act on GLP-1 receptors. Brand versions are FDA-approved for weight management.
- **Main goal is growth hormone support.** [Sermorelin](/sermorelin/) signals your pituitary to release growth hormone. It is not a weight loss drug.
- **Not sure.** Start with the [weight loss overview](/weight-loss-overview/) or ask a provider during your visit.

**Considering sermorelin?** A licensed provider reviews your answers and decides whether it is appropriate. See how it compares on price in the [sermorelin price index](/sermorelin-price-index/), or read about the [sermorelin program](/sermorelin/). [Start your sermorelin visit](https://start.try-astra.com/start-online-visit/sermorelin).
$120 charged monthly, or $546 every 6 months ($91/mo). Renews automatically; cancel any time. Full refund if a provider does not prescribe. [Subscription terms](/subscription-terms/).

## What studies found

| Study | Who | Weight and fat result |
|---|---|---|
| [Vittone, in this review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7108996/) | 11 older men; 6 weeks | No significant change in weight, BMI, waist-hip ratio, lean mass or percent body fat |
| [Khorram, 1997](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9141536/) | 19 older adults; 16 weeks of a related analog | Body weight unaffected; no change in body fat; muscle (lean mass) rose in men only |

IGF-1, a hormone the liver makes in response to growth hormone, rose in the Khorram trial, but that did not translate into weight change. A [2005 study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16260425/) of GHRH-1,44, a different molecule, reported 16% less visceral fat in 10 postmenopausal women, with no control group. Losing visceral fat is also not the same as losing weight.

These trials were small and were not designed as weight loss trials in people with obesity. The related drug tesamorelin reduced visceral fat in people with HIV, yet its [FDA label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224) says it is not for weight loss and has a weight-neutral effect. Read [sermorelin vs tesamorelin](/sermorelin/guides/vs-tesamorelin/) for more.

## Sermorelin vs GLP-1 medications

|   | Sermorelin | Semaglutide and tirzepatide |
|---|---|---|
| How it acts | Signals the pituitary to release growth hormone | Act on GLP-1 receptors, and for tirzepatide GIP receptors too |
| Studied for weight loss | Not established | Yes. Brand versions are FDA-approved for weight management |
| Compounded versions | Not FDA-approved | Not FDA-approved |

## Common questions

### How much weight can you lose on sermorelin?
No figure is supported by the studies we reviewed, because body weight did not change. Any promised number goes beyond this evidence.

### Is sermorelin the same as Ozempic?
No. They act through different pathways. Ozempic is brand-name semaglutide, a GLP-1 medication, while sermorelin signals the pituitary to release growth hormone.

### Why did I gain weight on sermorelin?
We found no study that explains this, and many things affect weight. Tell your provider, especially if it was sudden or came with swelling.

### Which peptide is best for weight loss?
Among these, GLP-1 medications are the ones studied for weight management. A provider can tell you whether one suits you. See the [weight loss overview](/weight-loss-overview/).

## Safety at a glance

Reported side effects include flushing, injection site pain or irritation and mild headache. Sermorelin is not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding, active cancer or certain pituitary conditions, and long-term safety in adults has not been established. It is [prohibited in tested sports](https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/2025list_en_final_clean_12_september_2024.pdf). Read [is sermorelin safe?](/sermorelin/guides/is-it-safe/) for sources and details.

## Keep reading

- [All sermorelin guides](/sermorelin/guides/)
- [Sermorelin with GLP-1s](/sermorelin/guides/with-tirzepatide-or-semaglutide/): No published trials, a listed glucose interaction, and what to ask your provider.
- [Does sermorelin work?](/sermorelin/guides/does-it-work/): What it does, what studies measured, and who it may suit.
- [Sermorelin vs tesamorelin](/sermorelin/guides/vs-tesamorelin/): FDA status, evidence and safety compared, with no head-to-head trial to rely on.
- [Results timeline](/sermorelin/guides/results-timeline/): What studies measured over time, and why before-and-after photos mislead.

**More guides:** [FDA status and legality](/sermorelin/guides/fda-approved-legal/) · [Sermorelin online](/sermorelin/guides/online-prescription/) · [Providers compared](/sermorelin/guides/providers-compared/) · [Is sermorelin safe?](/sermorelin/guides/is-it-safe/) · [Sermorelin for women](/sermorelin/guides/for-women/) · [Sermorelin vs CJC-1295](/sermorelin/guides/vs-cjc-1295/) · [Sermorelin vs HGH](/sermorelin/guides/vs-hgh/) · [Sermorelin and sleep](/sermorelin/guides/sleep/) · [Stopping sermorelin](/sermorelin/guides/stopping/)

## Sources

- [Sinha et al., Beyond the androgen receptor: growth hormone secretagogues](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7108996/), Transl Androl Urol, 2020
- [Khorram et al., long-term GHRH analog in age-advanced men and women](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9141536/), J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1997
- [Veldhuis et al., GHRH-1,44 for 3 months in postmenopausal women](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16260425/), Eur J Endocrinol, 2005
- [Egrifta SV prescribing information](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3d783378-b02d-4f19-99dd-0fc91a042224), DailyMed

Published by Astra, which offers sermorelin. This guide is educational and is not medical advice. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality.