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Science / Explained

SERIES: MYTHS READ AGAINST THE SCIENCE

Do GLP-1 peptides cause loose skin?

Loose skin follows weight loss, not the peptide itself.

01

The Mechanism

How much loose skin appears after weight loss depends on how much weight is lost, how fast, age, skin elasticity, prior weight history, and how much of the loss came from fat versus lean tissue. The peptide does not change skin structure directly. The body changes size, and the skin needs time and support to follow.

02

The Two Protective Factors

The 2025 nutrition advisory on weight-loss peptides lists two protective factors consistently: protein intake of 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day during active reduction, and resistance training across major muscle groups two to three times a week.

03

The Pattern That Fails

Faster loss with low protein and no resistance training is the pattern that produces the most excess skin. The peptide's role is producing the calorie deficit; what fills that deficit (or does not) is what determines the outcome.

04

What this means

References

  1. 01American Academy of Dermatology; *GLP-1 peptides and skin/hair side effects*. Mozaffarian D et al. 2025, *Obesity* (Silver Spring), 33(8):1475-1503 (PMID 40445127).Source line — see article body