Growth Hormone Analogs: What They Are, How They Work, and Which One Is Right for You

A medical guide from Flow Wellness

Growth hormone (GH) plays a major role in how we age—affecting energy, metabolism, muscle repair, fat loss, sleep, and overall vitality. GH naturally begins to decline around age 30, and many people feel the shift long before they’re ready: slower recovery, more abdominal fat, lower energy, and difficulty building lean muscle despite consistent effort.

Growth hormone analogs—peptide therapies that stimulate your body’s own GH production—offer a safe, biologically aligned way to support healthier aging. At Flow Wellness, two of the most common GH-boosting peptides we discuss with patients are Sermorelin and Tesamorelin. Below is a simple guide to what they do, who may benefit, and how they compare.

How Growth Hormone Peptides Work

GH is something your body naturally makes. It supports energy, muscle tone, fat burning, recovery, and healthy sleep. As we age, these levels drop, which leads to more fatigue and stubborn belly fat.

Growth hormone peptides don’t add synthetic hormones into your system. Instead, they gently stimulate the pituitary gland in your brain to release more of your own GH—similar to how your body worked in your 20s. This release happens in natural nighttime waves, which helps your body use GH exactly as intended.

This matters because GH peptides:

• Work with your body, not against it

• Avoid the risks of high synthetic hormone levels

• Provide steady, gradual improvement instead of dramatic swings

Potential benefits include:

• More energy and faster recovery

• Better muscle tone

• Less stubborn abdominal fat

• Improved sleep and clearer thinking

• Healthier, more youthful skin

• A noticeable lift in overall vitality

Basically: it’s not magic, but it feels close.

The Most Common Peptides: A Side-by-Side Guide

1. Sermorelin

What it is:
A growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) analog that signals the pituitary to produce GH in a natural, physiologic way.

How it works:
Sermorelin binds to GHRH receptors in the pituitary, increasing the frequency of GH pulses.

Key benefits:

• Gentle, steady GH stimulation

• Better sleep quality

• Mild improvements in energy and body composition

• Lower cost and strong safety profile

• Great starting point for those new to peptides

• Oral formulations available

Who benefits most:

• Adults in their 30s–50s beginning to notice age-related GH decline

• Individuals wanting better recovery, sleep, and energy

• Patients seeking a foundational and cost-effective peptide

2. Tesamorelin

What it is:
Tesamorelin is a stronger, targeted peptide designed specifically to reduce visceral abdominal fat by boosting growth hormone more directly.

How it works:
It increases GH and IGF-1 levels and is especially known for reducing visceral fat—the deep belly fat around your organs linked to inflammation, insulin resistance, and heart disease risk.

Key benefits:

• Significant reduction in visceral abdominal fat

• Improved metabolic health

• Better insulin sensitivity

• Smaller waist circumference and abdominal contour

• One of the most effective peptides for stubborn midsection fat

Who benefits most:

• Patients with high visceral fat on body-composition scans

• Individuals with metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance

• Adults wanting targeted abdominal fat loss and cardiometabolic improvement

Comparing the Peptides

Who Should Avoid All GH-Stimulating Peptides?

Growth-hormone analogs should not be used by:

• Anyone with active cancer

• Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals

• Those with uncontrolled diabetes

• Patients with untreated thyroid disorders

• Individuals with proliferative retinopathy

• Those with a history of pituitary tumors (unless cleared)

A clinical evaluation and appropriate labs are important for safety.

Which Peptide Is Right for You?

Choosing the right peptide depends on your goals:

• Want better sleep, energy, and gentle support? → Sermorelin

• Want to specifically lose stubborn visceral belly fat? → Tesamorelin

At Flow Wellness, we look at your complete wellness picture—symptoms, lifestyle, metabolic labs, and Evolt body scans—to design a plan that fits your goals and supports safe, meaningful results.

Considering Peptide Therapy in Oregon or Washington?

If you’re looking to improve energy, recovery, metabolism, or healthy aging, peptide therapy can be a powerful and natural tool. Our clinicians personalize every plan, ensuring your dosing, timing, and progress are closely monitored.

Ready to explore whether growth hormone analogs are right for you?

Schedule a consultation at Flow Wellness

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for personalized medical advice. Benefits of growth hormone analogs have not been evaluated by the FDA. Growth hormone analogs must be obtained with a prescription by a licensed medical provider.