If there’s one ingredient stealing the spotlight this year, it’s peptides. Promising everything from firmer skin to thicker hair, they are now creeping into fitness and wellness routines, with claims that go beyond the surface. After maxing out on protein powders and collagen scoops, TikTok’s latest fixation is peptide stacking. Is it the next frontier in health, or just another wellness fad in disguise?
“Peptide stacking refers to the practice of using multiple peptides at the same time to achieve different or synergistic effects,” says Dr. Aarti Javeri-Mehta, internal medicine specialist & board-certified lifestyle medicine physician and founder of Sustain Health. “These peptides may target goals such as fat loss, muscle gain, improved sleep, wound healing, enhanced skin quality, or hormone regulation.”
What is peptide stacking?
The concept borrows from “stacking” in the fitness and biohacking world, where compounds are often combined to maximise benefits. Peptides are synthetic amino acid chains that mimic the body’s natural signals to target recovery, muscle growth, and overall wellness.
“The idea is to combine multiple peptide supplements or injections to achieve a range of physical goals, at once,” explains Karishma Shah, integrative nutritionist and health psychologist. “Some might include one peptide to burn fat, another to build muscle, and a third to speed recovery.”
According to the expert, the trend is fueled by TikTok’s appetite for anything promising quick, dramatic transformations. But wellness isn’t something that can be distilled into a viral checklist of hacks.
Some of the popular peptide stacks in wellness and performance include BPC-157 and TB-500, known for regenerative claims—BPC-157 for tissue and gut repair and TB-500 for recovery and inflammation reduction. Other popular combinations include CJC-1295 with Ipamorelin for growth hormone release, Melanotan II for tanning and libido, and GLP-1 analogues like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide for weight loss and metabolic health.
Users often combine these peptides to boost recovery, body composition, or for anti-aging effects, but most combinations aren’t clinically validated, and regulatory approval for cosmetic or performance use is lacking. “While each has a targeted purpose, stacking them overlooks how interconnected our hormones, metabolism, and cellular communication truly are,” adds Shah.
Is it risky?
Peptides act as signaling molecules, instructing the body to repair, regenerate, or regulate specific systems, and both experts agree that under medical supervision, they can be appropriate for individuals recovering from injury, managing chronic inflammation, or following a physician-designed performance plan.
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