Peptides. Small chains of amino acids that act as messengers, carrying out our bodily functions.
This definition, however, does not encapsulate the entirety of peptides in terms of the medical innovation and societal impact that are attached to them. Within the past 2 years, there has been increased media coverage and use of peptides.
At first, I thought this must be a joke. Often seen in “looksmaxxing” videos and memes of clavicular, I assumed that peptide use only applied to a niche community of looks-obsessed individuals. Upon further research, I found something much different. Peptides have been widely used and continue to grow in popularity as we become more desensitized to them through media exposure.
The question is whether peptide usage is beneficial or detrimental.
FDA-Approved-ish
Ozempic is the first peptide that I heard about.
The Ozempic epidemic is an era in which many celebrities, influencers, and other – often wealthy – individuals use the peptide Ozempic for weight loss. As more and more celebrities became skinnier, it became apparent to the public that Ozempic was a commonly used drug in that space.
Originally a diabetes medication, Ozempic was found to suppress one’s appetite, leading to “easy” weight loss. The reason I say “easy” is because it still involves the actions of either injecting oneself with or consuming the medication, as well as putting up with the side effects. The side effects include nausea, vomiting, and sometimes malnutrition – things you would expect from an appetite suppressant.
Putting aside philosophical issues of how this medication was made for diabetic patients and how the increased use of it created an Ozempic drought, leaving patients without medication that they need to survive, Ozempic users also put themselves in danger. Using these peptides ultimately turns your body into a lab experiment – more on this later.
To understand the dangers of the drug, we must first understand what it is. Ozempic is classified as a GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide. Glucagon is the hormone in your body that regulates blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar is lower than the healthy range, it signals to your body that it is time to eat in order to increase your blood sugar. GLP-1s, as signaled in the name, reduce glucagon in your system, therefore suppressing your appetite. The long-term effects of this are still unknown. Many who used the drug and have since discontinued their use report an immense increase in their appetite post-discontinuation. This ultimately leads to regaining the weight that they sought to lose in the first place. In this sense, it is not a long-term solution.
I don’t think it makes sense to risk your health for a drug that may not even solve your “problem.” Although this drug is regulated, which reduces its danger, I would personally opt out of messing with my body’s natural processes.
Next, collagen.
As you may have seen, collagen peptides are used in face masks, creams, and other skin care products. Collagen serves many purposes in our body, including skin elasticity. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, which leads to wrinkles. This is important for those avoiding aging effects on their skin.
While it is true that collagen is crucial for our bodily functions, it has not been proven that topical or ingested methods of collagen intake actually increase collagen production. As collagen is an essential component of the body, our body already has the mechanisms in place to produce collagen. Companies push food as “collagen-rich” or sell collagen supplements, when in reality, humans can produce this peptide with any amino acids. We ingest amino acids through the foods we eat.
A less common and more invasive form of collagen ingestion is by injection. Injections are both FDA-approved and have proven effectiveness in reducing scarring and wrinkles. Overall, the sale of collagen products seems like more of a money grab than a medical innovation. Whether the product of indirect or direct marketing, the impacts of peptides are often over-exaggerated and can sometimes be dangerous.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen
https://www.healthline.com/health/collagen-injections#bellafill-vs-sculptra
FDA-Banned
Melanotan.
The best examples of unregulated or black market peptides that I know of are melanotan-1 and melanotan-2, a.k.a. MT-1 and MT-2. I have seen an increase in extremely unnaturally tan individuals. It has been popular for years to tan oneself using the sun, tanning beds, and body sprays. What I had not considered before was increasing my body’s melanin production. That’s exactly what these peptides do.
If you want to skip the hassle of lying out in the sun or making a tanning appointment, just inject yourself with hormones once a day, right? Wrong! MT-1 and MT-2 are FDA-banned and for good reason. Many users develop moles and skin spots across their skin as a side effect. Due to the overproduction of melanin, melanotan users are at risk of melanoma and skin cancer, in addition to other diseases. Additionally, because it is unregulated, these peptides are subject to contamination, leading to further damage to the body. Simply banning dangerous peptides like this one is not enough to stop people from using them.
The following video is not for the purpose of medical advice. It is an example of how social media encourages the use of dangerous peptides.
How ANd WHY
Loopholes. By going around the law to obtain illegal peptides, individuals are putting themselves in the position of lab rats. One of the loopholes of certain peptide bans is that you may buy them for the purposes of research. So, all one has to do is make a connection with an Asian manufacturer and purchase under the guise that it is being used for research purposes.
What buyers don’t realize is that their lie is not far from the truth – only the “research” is being done on themselves. For peptide manufacturers, this loophole allows them to analyze the long-term implications of peptide use without bearing any of the consequences of human endangerment. Now, why go to all this trouble? How come, despite all the risks and unknowns, peptides are increasing in popularity?
Social media. We all love it and hate it.
No matter your opinion, there’s no escaping the fact that social media has a huge impact – if not the largest – on modern culture and our perception of “normal.” If you see something enough times, you will eventually become desensitized to it. Even jokes about peptide use bring it into the conversation enough that it is normalized.
The appeal comes from the obsession with looks in our generation, also pushed by social media. It’s no coincidence that the “looksmaxxing” community is the same one pushing the peptide agenda. Those obsessed with perfecting their image are willing to go to any length possible. And a large part of why they aim for perfection is due to social media. False images showing “perfect” bodies and “perfect” features push people to aim for that same perfection.
This, coupled with corporations and advertisements throughout platforms that feast on user insecurities, leads people to spend money on unnecessary and harmful products. Look at bone-smashing, the act of repeatedly hitting your face with a hammer to change your appearance. This is obviously detrimental to the body and can lead to severe facial injury. Because influencers are selling their brand to consumers, they are capitalizing on young users’ insecurities. The more views they achieve from their advice and bone-smashing tutorials, the more fame and money they gain.
It’s also interesting to see how the same tactics used to sell products to women based on their insecurities are being used on men. It’s the decades-long tale of setting unreachable standards and capitalizing on the insecurities they create.
An additional factor in the sale of products is the fallacy of the halo effect. People believe that the better they appear, the more successful they will be in all facets of their lives, including in their careers. This logic seems especially relevant now that men are increasingly being targeted by appearance-based marketing. This is not to say that women don’t value their careers; rather, there is often a stigma around women attempting to enhance their appearance for professional success, out of fear that their achievements will be attributed to seduction rather than merit. It’s not that peptides are exclusively targeting men. Rather, peptide marketing is encouraging men to pay more attention to their appearance.
With that last note, I want to emphasize that the things that you put into your body do matter. Without knowing the long-term effects of the use of a product, you risk not only the length but also the quality of your life. Do not fall for the propaganda that a certain product will fix all of your problems.
While peptides in theory could be beneficial to your body, they have real potential to damage both your body and mind.