The metabolic process by which stored triglycerides in adipose tissue are broken down into free fatty acids and glycerol, releasing them into the bloodstream for use as energy. Lipolysis is regulated by hormones including growth hormone, catecholamines, and glucagon, and is suppressed by insulin.

Several peptide compounds affect lipolysis through different mechanisms: growth hormone secretagogues (tesamorelin, MK-677, ipamorelin) stimulate GH release, which is directly lipolytic; GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) reduce appetite and improve insulin sensitivity, indirectly affecting fat metabolism; and AOD-9604 was designed specifically as the lipolytic fragment of growth hormone. The distinction between direct lipolysis stimulation and indirect weight loss through appetite suppression is important for understanding these compounds’ different mechanisms.