Lithia woman's life-changing wellness story spurred by peptides: 'I feel fantastic'

LITHIA, Fla. - Peptides are being billed as the next big breakthrough in wellness, with more people turning to them for weight loss and anti-aging.

Riding on horseback through her backyard in Lithia, Lisa Wolfson finally feels free again. Over the last two years, she’s lost more than 50 pounds.

What we know:

This follows years of chronic pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis and insulin resistance. Wolfson says managing her condition was difficult, especially with added weight.

"I was in chronic pain," Wolfson said. "Having extra weight made it harder to ride because it was tougher on my joints."

Now, Wolfson is riding her horse, Flash, with ease.

Eventually, her nurse practitioner, Cathy Nutting, recommended a peptide called tirzepatide. The once-weekly injection helped lower Wolfson’s blood sugar, curb her appetite and led to weight loss.

What they're saying:

"I feel fantastic, mentally, and psychologically it’s great," Wolfson said. "I move better, and it’s easier to do pretty much anything."

Nutting recommended peptides as part of her care.

"Peptides are basically just amino acids, they’re like our body’s internal text messaging system," Nutting said. "They send signals to our cells to tell them to repair, regulate and restore function."

From weight loss to overall wellness, peptides are rapidly gaining popularity nationwide. They’re also being used in skincare, muscle growth and anti-aging treatments.

The other side:

Nutting cautions that not all peptide sources are safe. Emphasizing the importance of peptides prescribed by qualified medical providers and purchased at regulated pharmacies.

"With unregulated sources, anything could happen," Nutting said. "Especially if you’re injecting peptides into your body."

What's next:

At the federal level, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing to roll back restrictions on peptides. The move could make them more widely available.

For Wolfson, the results have been life-changing. She said her experience speaks for itself.

"It’s fantastic because we need new solutions," Wolfson said. "I had been struggling with weight loss for years and these peptides have had so much success."