The Best Peptide to Truly Lose Fat is Not GLP-1, it’s MOTS-C to Boost Mitochondria
A conversation about MOTS-c and other peptides for fat loss, recovery and skin, with Dr. Joy Kong describing what she uses and why.
With Joy Kong
Key moments
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- 0:00What MOTS-c does, per KongKong describes MOTS-c as a mitochondrial peptide that she says supports energy production, insulin sensitivity, strength and endurance.
- 3:02Fat burning and beta oxidationKong says MOTS-c's best-known use is speeding fat burning and weight loss. She says she does not know the exact biochemical pathways.
- 4:35Exercise study and mouse dataDeLauer cites a human exercise study with a 12-fold rise in MOTS-c, plus preclinical results on inflammation, obesity and sprint capacity.
- 7:38Other mitochondrial and fat peptidesKong names 5-amino-1MQ, SS-31 and tesamorelin, saying tesamorelin has good science behind visceral fat loss.
- 8:40Ipamorelin, CJC-1295 and growth hormoneKong explains why she prefers growth hormone releasing peptides to growth hormone itself. The two then discuss sleep without finding a clear mechanism.
- 11:40BPC-157 and TB-500Kong calls the pair her favorites and likens them to a keychain that targets many organ systems at once.
- 13:10Caution about IGF-1 LR3Kong prefers peptides with stronger evidence and safety profiles. DeLauer calls IGF-1 LR3 isolated and possibly risky.
- 15:11GHK-Cu for skin and hairKong describes GHK-Cu as the main skin regeneration peptide. DeLauer recounts fast body hair growth while taking it.
- 18:46MOTS-c and myostatinDeLauer cites a preclinical 40% myostatin drop with MOTS-c and speculates about sauna and mitochondrial health.
What the video says
Thomas DeLauer interviews Dr. Joy Kong, who works in regenerative medicine and runs a clinic in Los Angeles. The first half centers on MOTS-c, a mitochondrial peptide. Kong says it supports energy production, so the body can burn sugar and fat more efficiently. She says this is why people report better insulin sensitivity, faster weight loss and better strength and endurance. She admits she does not know the exact biochemical pathways.
DeLauer adds studies he has read. He describes a human study in which sedentary people did four hours of exercise and showed a 12-fold rise in MOTS-c. He also describes preclinical studies reporting lower inflammatory markers, less diet-induced obesity, better treadmill capacity and, later in the talk, a 40% drop in myostatin. Both speakers suggest the peptide may work better in people who already eat well and train. Kong says she saw this in practice. A paid promotion for a probiotic sits at the start of the video.
The second half moves through other peptides. Kong names the mitochondrial peptides 5-amino-1MQ and SS-31, and tesamorelin, which she says has good evidence for visceral fat loss. She says she pairs ipamorelin with CJC-1295 and prefers growth hormone releasing peptides to injected growth hormone, because the body keeps control of how much it makes. She likes BPC-157 and TB-500 for their broad effects across organ systems. Both she and DeLauer are wary of IGF-1 LR3. DeLauer shares a story about unexpected hair growth after taking GHK-Cu, and Kong calls it the standard skin peptide.
The talk is anecdotal and conversational, with few citations and no dosing details. It suits a reader who wants a practitioner's view of how these peptides are discussed, not a review of the evidence.
On each compound
MOTS-c0:00
Kong describes it as a mitochondrial peptide linked to energy production, insulin sensitivity and fat burning. DeLauer cites a human exercise study and preclinical results on obesity, endurance and myostatin.
See how your DNA reads MOTS-cSS-318:08
Kong names it as another mitochondrial peptide. She is not sure there are enough studies on weight loss but says it could help mitochondrial health.
See how your DNA reads SS-31Tesamorelin8:10
Kong calls it one of her favorites and says good science shows it helps with weight loss, specifically visceral fat.
See how your DNA reads TesamorelinIpamorelin8:40
Kong says she uses it with CJC-1295 and describes it as a growth hormone releasing peptide. Both speakers say people report better sleep with it, but neither can explain why.
See how your DNA reads IpamorelinCJC-12958:40
Kong says she uses it together with ipamorelin and that the pair is meant to be several times stronger than either alone. She cannot recall exactly how their mechanisms differ.
See how your DNA reads CJC-1295BPC-15711:40
Kong says she loves it and uses it with TB-500 in her stem cell treatment. She says the pair reaches the brain, immune, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and, for BPC-157, digestive systems.
See how your DNA reads BPC-157TB-50011:40
Kong pairs it with BPC-157 and calls the two a broad-acting combination she favors. DeLauer says he took it with BPC-157 and GHK for injuries.
See how your DNA reads TB-500IGF-1 LR313:10
Kong prefers other growth hormone peptides for their evidence and safety profile. DeLauer says IGF-1 LR3 seems isolated and possibly risky from a cancer standpoint, while allowing that no one really knows.
See how your DNA reads IGF-1 LR3GHK-Cu15:11
Kong calls it the standard skin regeneration peptide, usable topically or by injection, and says it is used for wound healing and hair restoration. DeLauer says his body hair grew quickly while taking it.
See how your DNA reads GHK-CuWhat this video doesn’t settle
- The title compares MOTS-c with GLP-1 drugs, but the video never compares them head to head.
- Kong says she does not know the exact biochemical pathways behind MOTS-c's effect on fat burning.
- Most mechanistic and performance data come from preclinical studies that DeLauer summarizes from memory, without naming sources beyond one journal.
Questions this video answers
What does MOTS-c do according to Dr. Joy Kong?
Kong says MOTS-c is a mitochondrial peptide that supports energy production, so the body burns sugar and fat more efficiently. She links it to better insulin sensitivity, faster weight loss and improved strength and endurance. She says she does not know the exact biochemical pathways.
Does MOTS-c work better in people with healthy habits?
Kong says people with a poor diet responded to it, but people with a good diet responded even better. She and DeLauer reason that cells already working efficiently respond more strongly. This is their interpretation and is not backed by data shown in the video.
Which peptides does Kong prefer for growth hormone and fat loss?
Kong prefers growth hormone releasing peptides, naming ipamorelin with CJC-1295, and tesamorelin. She cites their evidence and safety profiles and says the body limits how much it makes. She says tesamorelin has good science for visceral fat.
What do the speakers say about BPC-157 and TB-500?
Kong calls them favorites and says she includes them in her stem cell treatment. She describes them as targeting many organ systems at once. The video gives no dosing or trial data for them.
What does the video say about GHK-Cu?
Kong calls GHK-Cu the standard skin regeneration peptide, usable on the skin or by injection, and says it also supports wound healing and hair restoration. DeLauer shares that his body hair grew quickly while he took it alongside BPC-157 and TB-500.
Video by Thomas DeLauer on YouTube, embedded as published. The summary is written by PeptidesDNA from the video; every claim in it is the speaker’s. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the creator. Not medical advice.
