Delivered-To: tjphuhs@gmail.com Received: by 2002:adf:f549:0:b0:441:282b:bd with SMTP id j9csp373724wrp; Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:04:32 -0700 (PDT) X-Received: by 2002:ac8:7d45:0:b0:50e:6055:274e with SMTP id d75a77b69052e-5102ab41444mr4198671cf.17.1777500272548; Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:04:32 -0700 (PDT) ARC-Seal: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; t=1777500272; cv=none; d=google.com; s=arc-20240605; b=OF8941OozPKBJiGrETroAJUMZ42lSRzXXk2TNAiX3vgJyj19LEmUtXSTehh8+6Z6Z4 ho2PII9zVmma0l7EhCQJi0P2ZuSvNXTxl/CJk+sa1wbB56xZI6OkIfu/JTSJQnuvz3zP CIkNYxgdRhT0ObOh7ZRqoYQ4P/FEMoc7qAuDohfXppwiNalh6sHbd2hIPqrO9S70iZSr q9uvPCFj0dGep41q/h25R5eqXpdKCAhJbpYDLgYo4nTNibPzLzm1bJL1/8s2kwXmDKpF 3ZEuNVuzsYoCFLWxbWHgBw/ub6wK+nN9MsV1kTT8Wdk6W/G2AcdtxfdVwaAPcsIfh+VA K5Og== ARC-Message-Signature: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=google.com; s=arc-20240605; h=message-id:date:mime-version:sid:subject:reply-to :list-unsubscribe-post:list-unsubscribe:from:feedback-id:to :dkim-signature:dkim-signature; bh=t3cjkW/RzvLwceHs3STWFETns8PwExKZ0StFFpJsdw4=; fh=Hcu5VqhndQNvtVhwbc8tr7JrSOSQJms/+lG2L+E9gBs=; b=HJ/CoL9sKLc9mWnLVmi8eV3S7vZ3CvLM8cTe7JgtqNJHqaibnT8kq7SGH86kwUFczD 6+CAA6l2zjA0YruvB49+Lm1SUHoZi2GbfAFF4gN1UPxZIqxsqxFEOk5nSM2tUCBqGk1o NFGzOFiw+2fu3N4+ccVcOoKB4yt8thwQ98Ss1zekrihB/KpBHbgi2Remdf98VNLP9DH2 QUC8cdYS//rck/evxnemAo9o8DNihhXDKoRpKMzmuhvtiK3ySx7ihL41uuffLSUADSFk V5OWu60BGmqffh0OZQYpXF4AcvlcNSPf0xy+bwxVErRX9ldiT5orKuLl5/8gZlfC5izT pbug==; dara=google.com ARC-Authentication-Results: i=1; mx.google.com; dkim=pass header.i=@bhmta.beehiiv.com header.s=bh header.b=Beomlpyq; dkim=pass header.i=@mail.beehiiv.com header.s=bh header.b=bwDabybW; spf=pass (google.com: domain of bounces+tjphuhs=gmail.com@bh.mail.beehiiv.com designates 69.67.186.39 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom="bounces+tjphuhs=gmail.com@bh.mail.beehiiv.com"; dmarc=pass (p=REJECT sp=REJECT dis=NONE) header.from=beehiiv.com Return-Path: Received: from bh186-39.smtp-out.beehiivmail.net (bh186-39.smtp-out.beehiivmail.net. [69.67.186.39]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id d75a77b69052e-5101aea375csi39094811cf.203.2026.04.29.15.04.32 for (version=TLS1_3 cipher=TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 bits=256/256); Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:04:32 -0700 (PDT) Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of bounces+tjphuhs=gmail.com@bh.mail.beehiiv.com designates 69.67.186.39 as permitted sender) client-ip=69.67.186.39; Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; dkim=pass header.i=@bhmta.beehiiv.com header.s=bh header.b=Beomlpyq; dkim=pass header.i=@mail.beehiiv.com header.s=bh header.b=bwDabybW; spf=pass (google.com: domain of bounces+tjphuhs=gmail.com@bh.mail.beehiiv.com designates 69.67.186.39 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom="bounces+tjphuhs=gmail.com@bh.mail.beehiiv.com"; dmarc=pass (p=REJECT sp=REJECT dis=NONE) header.from=beehiiv.com X-BmtaRef: eyJfQF8iOiJcXF8vIiwicmVjaXBpZW50IjoidGpwaHVoc0BnbWFpbC5jb20iLCJ4X2xpc3RfaWQiOiJmZDQxNjMwZS1lOTFmLTQ2ZDktYTI3NC1iNzQwZGFiNzU2ZDIiLCJ4X3N1YnNjcmliZXJfaWQiOiI5YzQwZDYzOS02ZTFkLTQyOTItYTlkNy0wZTRjYmJiNWQ1ZGIifQ== DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; d=bhmta.beehiiv.com; s=bh; c=relaxed/relaxed; bh=t3cjkW/RzvLwceHs3STWFETns8PwExKZ0StFFpJsdw4=; h=from:subject:mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding: list-unsubcribe:feedback-id:list-unsubscribe-post:reply-to:to:cc: content-type:feedback-id:from:subject:to; t=1777500272; b=BeomlpyqxxTMRL7Rx5yytUQYsGY4SYahZAkv5uTpR/0yflaG5u8HuuALGSPeBPs2+OetjQB18 ocehuH/tY5C8P0Fj1qhPzPfP4BBJACRT5f1OpO3rAstSMr+8/kPGb2XQ2NYdjNv/z7JOFJ77m7c 3EvCrvDddeFptlWIJa1u0xLl1lGXDug3UJB29fXhlDbmQypv0Jzqrs1ETWxU2IdQ2qi4SQHeibt +SZF7ZG7cc0Z78O0ooB3iXe+4gE75RAj75WvNUWbYNmLgqfH8qCjOy8yDMwnAceBgWvJ5NClPqj 6ehVnhPVsF12RbgaiqdkK0aaIqqjke+TbgE66imTPMTg==; DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; d=mail.beehiiv.com; s=bh; c=relaxed/relaxed; bh=t3cjkW/RzvLwceHs3STWFETns8PwExKZ0StFFpJsdw4=; h=from:subject:mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding: list-unsubcribe:feedback-id:list-unsubscribe-post:reply-to:to:cc: content-type:feedback-id:from:subject:to; t=1777500272; b=bwDabybWMJngrWhIfDd8jG2WuVo08kIZDc8k1nqFIAFOGMay9QVChkEnNky0GIkpZE2UFGxE2 wc8he8+0/O16rNy8LZax7yNxQfaf4epY0lHSCuIz5SEwuVoHrq1AsE76Gai5yxRhm5XyGelgR5v PQsguoFhRPY33yoD5dDxQYjUmoVjc67XUfbM9kJufnDj+6ENcubo+XO7FtEXcoMTiVYTsl5qA3Q JNN84pVGvlvobYQog3QlPJASbRgns1dR7qKFoq84iRD+vrf0zvPDWldTY8wWHAYqQK5qUdk6KMx 8jQfpSXXNJR0kxzTanI0O/69+RoocDvLlyZrBkEGbfdg==; Received: from mail.beehiiv.com by bhmta(mta8) with HTTP id <6694a454441711f192db0affc850261d> for ; Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:04:32 +0000 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="fdYCjpF+TPCEPGEfZ/+rwg" To: "tjphuhs@gmail.com" Feedback-ID: 150b0810-e9ca-4472-b163-d096250de8db:newsletter:fd41630e-e91f-46d9-a274-b740dab756d2:c8f61fda6a60803 From: Hunter Williams List-Unsubscribe: , List-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe=One-Click Reply-To: =?utf-8?Q?Hunter=27s_Health_Hacks?= Subject: Retatrutide Makes Me Hungrier? X-Batch-Id: 4c3d4020-0d24-47fa-8863-0c7c40886edd X-Subscriber-ID: 9c40d639-6e1d-4292-a9d7-0e4cbbb5d5db X-Subscription-ID: 663283104 sId: fd41630e-e91f-46d9-a274-b740dab756d2 x-beehiiv-ids: {"account_name":"https://huntershealthhacks.beehiiv.com/","campaign_id":"150b0810-e9ca-4472-b163-d096250de8db","category":"newsletter","email_generated_at":1777500270,"user_id":"fd41630e-e91f-46d9-a274-b740dab756d2"} x-beehiiv-type: newsletter x-list-id: fd41630e-e91f-46d9-a274-b740dab756d2 x-list-owner: x-newsletter: https://huntershealthhacks.beehiiv.com/p/retatrutide-makes-me-hungrier x-newsletter-id: https://huntershealthhacks.beehiiv.com/ x-newsletter-signup: https://huntershealthhacks.beehiiv.com/subscribe Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:04:32 +0000 Message-ID: <20260429.220432.bd5cef39@mta8> --fdYCjpF+TPCEPGEfZ/+rwg Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Happy Wednesday! =0A=0AAn excellent reader question landed in my inbox this= week. It's one I'm hearing more often these days.=0A=0A=E2=80=9C_"I've not= iced a significant increase in hunger while taking retatrutide, but interes= tingly, I'm not experiencing weight gain, just not seeing any weight loss e= ither. Is this something you've seen before, and are there ways to improve = results in a situation like this?"_=E2=80=9C =E2=80=94 =0A=0AThe short answ= er is yes, I have seen this. =0A=0AAnd it makes more sense than you'd think= once you understand what retatrutide is actually doing in the body.=0A=0AM= ost people assume retatrutide works the same way semaglutide and tirzepatid= e do, but retatrutide is a different animal. =0A=0AThe published trial data= tells a story that doesn't match the marketing.=0A=0ALet's get into it.=0A= =0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A**Trial Data and Hunger**=0A=0AIn the phase 2 tr= ial published in _Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism_ last year, the appetite= suppression on retatrutide was much weaker than people expected. =0A=0ABy = week 36, the hunger reductions were no longer statistically different from = placebo (which is why it=E2=80=99s better to cycle peptides). =0A=0ANone o= f the doses showed a real difference in fullness or satiety scores at any p= oint during the 36-week trial.=0A=0AThe phase 3 TRIUMPH-4 data supports thi= s. =0A=0AOnly 18-19% of people on the highest doses reported "decreased app= etite" as a side effect. =0A=0ACompare that to nausea at 38-43% or diarrhea= at 33-35%. Decreased appetite is one of the _weakest_ signals in the safet= y data.=0A=0ASo if you're not feeling crushing appetite suppression on reta= trutide, you're actually pretty normal. =0A=0AThe drug just doesn't suppres= s hunger the way Lilly's marketing suggests.=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A= **The Counter-Regulatory Hunger Response **=0A=0ANow let's talk about why s= ome people get _hungrier_ on retatrutide instead of less hungry.=0A=0AWhen = you lose body weight, your body fights back. Hard. =0A=0AGhrelin, the hormo= ne that tells you to eat, climbs higher. =0A=0ALeptin, the hormone that tel= ls you you're full, drops. This is well documented across decades of weight= -loss research. =0A=0AThe response gets stronger the more weight you lose a= nd the faster you lose it.=0A=0ARetatrutide produces some of the most aggre= ssive weight loss ever seen from a drug. Up to 28.7% at 68 weeks in TRIUMPH= -4. =0A=0AThat kind of rapid loss triggers a maximal counter-regulatory res= ponse. =0A=0AYour body interprets it as starvation and ramps up hunger driv= e to defend its weight.=0A=0ALilly hasn't measured ghrelin or leptin in any= published retatrutide trial. =0A=0AThey don't track "increased appetite" a= s a reportable side effect. =0A=0ASo this whole counter-regulatory mechanis= m is invisible in the official trial data, even though we know it's happeni= ng physiologically.=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A**The Scale Doesn=E2=80= =99t Move**=0A=0ARetatrutide increases energy expenditure by activating the= glucagon receptor. =0A=0AYour body senses the increased calorie burn. It c= ranks up hunger to compensate.=0A=0AYou eat more to match the increased bur= n. Net result, neutral weight.=0A=0AThis is the same pattern researchers se= e with exercise. =0A=0AStudies on exercise and appetite show a consistent p= attern. =0A=0AIncreasing energy expenditure suppresses appetite in the shor= t term. =0A=0ABut over the long term, hunger and food intake actually go up= . The body defends its set point.=0A=0AThe Lilly authors actually hint at t= his in the _Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism_ paper. =0A=0ABuried in the di= scussion, they speculate that retatrutide's effect on energy expenditure co= uld "_influence retatrutide's effects on appetite-related constructs._" =0A= =0AEssentially, the glucagon-driven calorie burn might be working _against_= the appetite suppression.=0A=0AThe very mechanism that makes retatrutide u= nique is also what makes some people hungrier.=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A= =0A**Why Me?**=0A=0ABased on what I've seen and the trial data, a few patte= rns stand out.=0A=0APeople with lower starting BMI tend to hit this wall ha= rder. =0A=0AThe TRIUMPH-4 data showed something telling. =0A=0APeople with = BMI under 35 dropped out at much higher rates due to "perceived excessive w= eight loss" and adverse events. =0A=0ATheir bodies fought back faster becau= se they had less fat to lose in the first place.=0A=0APeople who are alread= y lean and using retatrutide for body recomposition see this all the time. = =0A=0AThe hunger drive ramps up because the body has nothing to spare.=0A= =0APeople at higher doses without enough protein or strength training also = struggle. =0A=0AIf you're losing weight and not protecting muscle, your bod= y burns lean tissue. =0A=0ALean tissue loss worsens metabolic adaptation. W= orse adaptation means more hunger.=0A=0AThe TRIUMPH body composition data s= howed retatrutide doesn't actually preserve lean mass any better than other= GLP-1 agents. =0A=0AThe "muscle-sparing" marketing around glucagon doesn't= hold up in the data. So if you're not training, eating protein, and optimi= zing your hormones, you'll lose muscle. =0A=0AAnd your hunger is going to c= limb.=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A**What I Would Do **=0A=0AA few things = to try, in order.=0A=0AFirst, hammer protein. One gram per pound of goal bo= dy weight, minimum. Protein blunts ghrelin, builds satiety hormones, and pr= otects lean mass. This is the single biggest lever you have.=0A=0ASecond, a= dd resistance training if you're not already lifting. Two to four sessions = per week of real strength work. This protects muscle, keeps your metabolic = rate higher, and reduces the counter-regulatory pressure on hunger.=0A=0ATh= ird, look at your dose. If you're on 8 or 12 mg and the hunger is winning, = talk to your provider about dropping back to 4 mg. The phase 3 TRIUMPH prog= ram is specifically testing 4 mg as a maintenance dose for this reason. Les= s is sometimes more.=0A=0AFourth, watch sleep and stress. Poor sleep direct= ly raises ghrelin and lowers leptin. Chronic stress raises cortisol levels,= which drive appetite. If these are off, no drug is going to override them.= =0A=0AFifth, get bloodwork. If your sex hormones and thyroid are tanked, it= =E2=80=99s only a matter of time before you suffer from retatrutide-induced= disaster. =0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A**Final Thoughts**=0A=0ASo why do= es retatrutide cause increased hunger in some people? Right now, all we can= do is speculate.=0A=0ANonetheless, retatrutide should not be viewed as a m= agic appetite eraser. =0A=0AIt's a powerful metabolic tool with a unique me= chanism that cuts both ways.=0A=0AThe glucagon component is what gives reta= trutide its edge over tirzepatide in weight-loss potential. =0A=0AIt's also= what makes some people hungrier, because it's burning more calories, and t= he body wants those calories back.=0A=0AIf you're hungry and not losing wei= ght, you're experiencing exactly what the published data quietly shows. =0A= =0AMost of retatrutide's weight loss happens through pathways _other than_ = appetite suppression. =0A=0AThe correlation between hunger reduction and we= ight loss in the trial was modest, around r=3D0.28. =0A=0AThat means appeti= te suppression accounts for less than 10% of the weight-loss variance.=0A= =0ASo the play is to lean into the protein, the training, HRT, and the life= style work. =0A=0AThe peptide is doing its job. =0A=0AYour job is to give i= t the inputs that let the weight loss show up on the scale.=0A=0ABest, =0A= =0AHunter Williams=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A**Further Reading**=0A=0A* = [Why Am I So Hungry on Retatrutide? Causes and Solutions (Bolt Pharmacy)](h= ttps://www.boltpharmacy.co.uk/guide/why-am-i-so-hungry-on-retatrutide)=0A= =0A* [Appetite, eating attitudes, and eating behaviours during treatment wi= th retatrutide (Kanu et al., Diabetes Obes Metab 2025)](https://pmc.ncbi.nl= m.nih.gov/articles/PMC12587234/)=0A=0A* [Triple-Hormone-Receptor Agonist Re= tatrutide for Obesity Phase 2 Trial (Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2023)](https:/= /www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2301972)=0A=0A* [Lilly TRIUMPH-4 Phase= 3 Results Press Release (December 2025)](https://investor.lilly.com/news-r= eleases/news-release-details/lillys-triple-agonist-retatrutide-delivered-we= ight-loss-average)=0A=0A* [Effects of retatrutide on body composition in T2= D (Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology 2025)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/sci= ence/article/abs/pii/S2213858725000920)=0A=0A* [Retatrutide Game Changer in= Obesity Pharmacotherapy Review (PMC)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art= icles/PMC12190491/)=0A=0A* [Long-Term Persistence of Hormonal Adaptations t= o Weight Loss (Sumithran et al., NEJM)](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.10= 56/NEJMoa1105816)=0A=0A* [Glucagon Control on Food Intake and Energy Balanc= e (PMC)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6719123/)=0A=0A=0A=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0AYou are reading a plain text version of this = post. For the best experience, copy and paste this link in your browser to = view the post online:=0Ahttps://huntershealthhacks.beehiiv.com/p/retatrutid= e-makes-me-hungrier --fdYCjpF+TPCEPGEfZ/+rwg Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Retatrutide Makes Me Hungrier?
A deep dive analysis  ‌ ‌ = 204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 60;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌=  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ R= 04; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &= #8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &#= 8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&#= 160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= ; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = 204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 60;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌=  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ R= 04; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &= #8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &#= 8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&#= 160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= ; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = 204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 60;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌=  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ R= 04; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &= #8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌
<= /tr>
= <= td class=3D"dd" align=3D"left" style=3D"padding:0px 15px;text-align:left;wo= rd-break:break-word;">

Final Thoughts

April 29= , 2026   |   R= ead online

Retatrutide Makes Me Hungrie= r?

A deep dive analysis

 
=3D"share
=  
=3D"share
= 		 
3D"share
3D""
<= /td>

An excellent reader question landed in my inbox this we= ek. It's one I'm hearing more often these days.

<= /tr>= <= /tr>

So this whole counter-regulatory mechanism is invisi= ble in the official trial data, even though we know it's happening phys= iologically.

Happy Wednesday!

=E2=9D=9D
 
<= p style=3D"color:#2D2D2D;font-weight:normal;margin:0px;text-align:center;">= "I've noticed a significant i= ncrease in hunger while taking retatrutide, but interestingly, I'm not = experiencing weight gain, just not seeing any weight loss either. Is this s= omething you've seen before, and are there ways to improve results in a= situation like this?"

The short answer is yes, I have see= n this.

And it makes more s= ense than you'd think once you understand what retatrutide is actually = doing in the body.

Most peo= ple assume retatrutide works the same way semaglutide and tirzepatide do, b= ut retatrutide is a different animal.

The published trial data tells a story that doesn't match th= e marketing.

Let's get = into it.

 

Trial Data and Hunger

In the phase 2 trial published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism last year, the appetite suppression on= retatrutide was much weaker than people expected.

By week 36, the hunger reductions were no longer st= atistically different from placebo (which is why it=E2=80=99s better to cyc= le peptides).

None of the d= oses showed a real difference in fullness or satiety scores at any point du= ring the 36-week trial.

The = phase 3 TRIUMPH-4 data supports this.

Only 18-19% of people on the highest doses reported "decrea= sed appetite" as a side effect.

Compare that to nausea at 38-43% or diarrhea at 33-35%. Decreased= appetite is one of the weakest= signals in the safety data.

So if you're not feeling = crushing appetite suppression on retatrutide, you're actually pretty no= rmal.

The drug just doesn&#= 39;t suppress hunger the way Lilly's marketing suggests.

 

The Counter-Regulatory Hunger Response

Now let's talk about why some people get hungrier on retatrutide instead of less hungry.

When you lose body weight, your body fights = back. Hard.

Ghrelin, the h= ormone that tells you to eat, climbs higher.

Leptin, the hormone that tells you you're full, drops= . This is well documented across decades of weight-loss research.

The response gets stronger the more = weight you lose and the faster you lose it.

Retatrutide produces some of the most aggressive weight los= s ever seen from a drug. Up to 28.7% at 68 weeks in TRIUMPH-4.

<= /td>

That kind of rapid loss triggers a maxi= mal counter-regulatory response.

Your body interprets it as starvation and ramps up hunger drive to de= fend its weight.

Lilly hasn&= #39;t measured ghrelin or leptin in any published retatrutide trial.

They don't track "increa= sed appetite" as a reportable side effect.

<= table class=3D"j" role=3D"none" width=3D"50%" border=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0= " cellpadding=3D"0" align=3D"center">
 

<= span style=3D"font-size:1.5rem;">The Scale Doesn=E2=80=99t Move

Retatrutide increases energy exp= enditure by activating the glucagon receptor.

Your body senses the increased calorie burn. It cranks u= p hunger to compensate.

You = eat more to match the increased burn. Net result, neutral weight.

This is the same pattern researchers = see with exercise.

Studies = on exercise and appetite show a consistent pattern.

Increasing energy expenditure suppresses appetite = in the short term.

But over= the long term, hunger and food intake actually go up. The body defends its= set point.

The Lilly auth= ors actually hint at this in the <= i>Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism paper.

Buried in the = discussion, they speculate that retatrutide's effect on energy expendit= ure could "influence retat= rutide's effects on appetite-related constructs."

Essentially, the glucagon-driven calorie burn might be working against the appetite suppression.

The very mechanism that makes retatrutide unique is also what ma= kes some people hungrier.

 

Why Me?

<= span style=3D"font-size:1.5rem;">Based on what I've seen and the trial = data, a few patterns stand out.

People with lower starting BMI tend to hit this wall harder.

The TRIUMPH-4 data showed something t= elling.

People with BMI und= er 35 dropped out at much higher rates due to "perceived excessive wei= ght loss" and adverse events.

Their bodies fought back faster because they had less fat to lose i= n the first place.

People w= ho are already lean and using retatrutide for body recomposition see this a= ll the time.

The hunger dri= ve ramps up because the body has nothing to spare.

People at higher doses without enough protein or str= ength training also struggle.

If you're losing weight and not protecting muscle, your body burns l= ean tissue.

Lean tissue lo= ss worsens metabolic adaptation. Worse adaptation means more hunger.=

The TRIUMPH body composition data = showed retatrutide doesn't actually preserve lean mass any better than = other GLP-1 agents.

The &qu= ot;muscle-sparing" marketing around glucagon doesn't hold up in th= e data. So if you're not training, eating protein, and optimizing your = hormones, you'll lose muscle.

And your hunger is going to climb.

=  

What I Wou= ld Do

A few things to t= ry, in order.

First, hammer = protein. One gram per pound of goal body weight, minimum. Protein blunts gh= relin, builds satiety hormones, and protects lean mass. This is the single = biggest lever you have.

Seco= nd, add resistance training if you're not already lifting. Two to four = sessions per week of real strength work. This protects muscle, keeps your m= etabolic rate higher, and reduces the counter-regulatory pressure on hunger= .

Third, look at your dose. = If you're on 8 or 12 mg and the hunger is winning, talk to your provide= r about dropping back to 4 mg. The phase 3 TRIUMPH program is specifically = testing 4 mg as a maintenance dose for this reason. Less is sometimes more.=

Fourth, watch sleep and str= ess. Poor sleep directly raises ghrelin and lowers leptin. Chronic stress r= aises cortisol levels, which drive appetite. If these are off, no drug is g= oing to override them.

Fifth= , get bloodwork. If your sex hormones and thyroid are tanked, it=E2=80=99s = only a matter of time before you suffer from retatrutide-induced disaster. =

 

So why does retatrutide cause increased hunger in some peo= ple? Right now, all we can do is speculate.

Nonetheless, retatrutide should not be viewed as a magic ap= petite eraser.

It's a p= owerful metabolic tool with a unique mechanism that cuts both ways.<= /p>

The glucagon component is what give= s retatrutide its edge over tirzepatide in weight-loss potential.

It's also what makes some people= hungrier, because it's burning more calories, and the body wants those= calories back.

If you'r= e hungry and not losing weight, you're experiencing exactly what the pu= blished data quietly shows.

Most of retatrutide's weight loss happens through pathways other than appetite suppression.

The correlation between hunger reduction and weight loss in the tr= ial was modest, around r=3D0.28.

That means appetite suppression accounts for less than 10% of the wei= ght-loss variance.

So the p= lay is to lean into the protein, the training, HRT, and the lifestyle work.=

The peptide is doing its j= ob.

Your job is to give it = the inputs that let the weight loss show up on the scale.

Best,

Hunter Williams

=
 

Further Reading<= /p>

=
3D"ig"3D"yt"=
= <= /tr><= /tr>=
3D""

Wa= nt more? Here=E2=80=99s how you can work with me:

=F0=9F=91=89Join my priv= ate coaching group, The AXION Collective:

=F0=9F=91=89Tr= y Zeroats, the world=E2=80=99s first sugar-free, naturally flavored oatmeal= :

<= /td>

=F0=9F=91=89Get the= Peptide Cheat Sheet:

<= div style=3D"margin-left:0px;" class=3D"edm_outlooklist">

=F0=9F=91=89All my daily essentials on Amazon

=F0=9F=91=89Get discounts on your favorite peptides and research = chemicals:

=F0=9F=91=8910= % off the BEST workout supplements from Unmatched Supps (pre-workout, whey = protein, creatine, EAAs, electrolytes - use code HUNTERW at checkout):

=F0=9F=91=89Submit A Video To= pic For My Next YouTube Video:

Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here

© 2026 Hunter's Health Hacks

228 Park Ave S, #29976, Ne= w York, New York 10003, United States

3D"beehiivPowered by beehiiv
Terms of Service
=
--fdYCjpF+TPCEPGEfZ/+rwg--