PEPTIDES HAVE EXPLODED in popularity in the past few years. While none have been more popular than GLP-1s (yes, they’re actually peptides too), another contender is emerging as a possible treatment for obesity. Meet the MOTS-C peptide.
If you’ve crawled on the biohacking threads on Reddit, you might have seen it mentioned once or twice. Though not currently approved for human use, the MOTS-C peptide is becoming popular for its energy-boosting effect and is often part of people’s longevity or metabolic health stacks. To know how the MOTS-C peptide works, we need to take a trip back to high school biology.
Chances are your teacher drilled one important fact into your brain: the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. They provide the energy for your body to run smoothly. Turns out, there are ways to optimize these microscopic MVPs. Exercising in zone 2 for 80 percent of your workout can improve their function. Injecting MOTS-C may be another method.
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First identified in 2015, MOTS-C is unique because it is encoded inside mitochondrial DNA rather than in genes in the nucleus like most proteins. It is thought to work by mimicking many of the biological effects of exercise.
Exercise opens up multiple metabolic pathways, and so does MOTS-C. This is primarily through activation of AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase). AMPK is important in regulating the balance of energy in cells. When switched on, AMPK has a number of downstream effects. It stimulates glucose uptake, increases fat metabolism, and boosts mitochondrial function. People online have reported noticeable differences in muscular endurance and overall reduced fatigue after several weeks on the MOTS-C peptide. One combined animal and human study found physical improvements in gait and grip strength.
So what does this have to do with obesity? Well, mitochondrial dysfunction is common among people with obesity. Plus, the disease can come with lethargy and make a person prone to prediabetes. There is some animal and limited human data that suggests MOTS-C could stop insulin resistance and diet-induced obesity. Scientists are currently recruiting people for a 12-week clinical trial to test the effectiveness of MOTS-C in adults with obesity and prediabetes.
The FDA is interested in MOTS-C’s potential in treating obesity as well as bone health. It’s one of seven peptides under review when an advisory committee convenes on July 23 and July 24, 2026. If the FDA decides to move forward with the recommendations, MOTS-C could be moved to the 503A Bulks List, which features ingredients that the FDA allows pharmacists and doctors to use for compounded medications.
Find more information and the latest peptide news at MH’s peptide hub.
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, MS is the associate health & fitness for Men’s Health and has previously written for CNN, Scientific American, Popular Science, and National Geographic before joining the brand. When she’s not working, she’s doing circus arts or working towards the perfect pull-up.
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