The longevity bros might be fighting, but that’s not stopping the internet’s early adopters from hyping up the next big thing. Last week, podcast host Andrew Huberman highlighted Ratatrutide, a powerful new weight loss drug, posting, “retatrutide is a real challenge to those that liked to bash on other GLP-1 agonists, etc., because it’s used by (soon) everyone.” Retatrutide is “the ultimate good,” said looksmaxxing influencer Braden Peters, a.k.a. Clavicular, in a video on his YouTube channel—before recently revealing that the drug is part of his so-called leanmaxxing stack. Peptides in general are booming, and retatrutide—otherwise known as “reta”—in particular is poised to prove more consequential than even Ozempic in terms of its broader impact on the health system. But what is this drug that “everyone” supposedly is or soon will be using, and why is a 20-something Chad with an affinity for shirtless mirror selfies self-medicating with obesity drugs, anyway?
What is retatrutide?
Ratatrutide is a breakthrough new weight loss drug that is currently showing a lot of promise in its ability to treat obesity and potentially other health conditions. Even at a time when revolutionary new obesity drugs seem to be entering the market every few months, experts that spoke to GQ are framing retatrutide as a major leap forward.
Until now, the most clinically effective obesity drugs on the market have targeted only one or two receptors responsible for managing variables like appetite, blood sugar, and insulin sensitivity. “This one is special and different because it works on three different receptors,” says Jessica Duncan, MD, DABOM, DABA, board-certified obesity medicine physician and Chief Medical Officer at Ivim Health.
You’ve probably heard of semaglutide, the now ubiquitous weight loss medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, commonly called GLP-1s. These drugs, under common brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy, target the body’s GLP-1 receptors by mimicking natural hormones responsible for regulating appetite and blood sugar levels. They improve insulin sensitivity, help to slow the movement of food through the digestive system, and are ultimately able to increase satiety and reduce food cravings.
Then came tirzepatide, a dual agonist that targets both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors. (Popular brands of tirezpatide include Mounjaro and Zepbound.) “They added a second feature, which basically was management of glycogen,” says Erik Nuveen, a triple board-certified surgeon with more than 20 years of experience treating patients with obesity and metabolic disease, and co-founder of Olympus Cosmetic Group. Because of this dual approach, tirzepatide has been shown to more effectively reduce blood sugar levels and ultimately lead to greater weight loss than single-agonist medications like semaglutide.
Enter retatrutide—the triple threat. “This medication adds what’s called a glucagon receptor agonist,” Dr. Duncan says. “It works primarily on the liver, in the gastrointestinal tract, and even on the fat tissue. The glucagon effect is really what sets retatrutide apart from other medications, and that’s because it has a little bit more of an effect on the liver and the fat tissue.” Basically, retatrutide tackles weight loss through multiple pathways simultaneously. “It’s definitely the most effective means ever created through science to reduce the storage of fat,” says Dr. Nuveen.
Why are you hearing about retatrutide now?
“It’s become a hot topic, because the phase three clinical trials are now underway,” Dr. Duncan says. This phase of testing is a big deal for any major drug, as it typically involves larger studies with more patients, which means lots of new data. “Also, it’s the next sort of trigger that FDA approval is coming soon,” Dr. Duncan says. “I think people are getting excited about what’s to come.”
