The injection of foreign body enhancements has become extremely normalized among gen Z and our youth in general. Peptides are scientifically a compound made up of several amino acids in which an individual would obtain by injection, mostly used to improve their physical appearance.

One of the widely used peptides, Retatrutide, also referred to as Reta, is coming to be the hip, new weight loss drug trending on many social media sites. 

Just a few months ago, Ozempic was the ‘magic in a needle’ everyone was talking about. The difference between the two is that Ozempic acts on just one weight receptor (GLP-1), whereas Reta acts on three (GIP, GLP-1, Glucagon), allegedly making it a stronger appetite suppressor while also increasing calorie/fat burning.

With those factors alone, it is easy to say that Reta was created for those who have worse trouble losing weight, where even Ozempic isn’t strong enough. With quick and easy obtainability, even individuals at a healthy weight are ‘pinning’, creating possible long-term, unresearched and non-evidenced results.

The carefulness surrounding this peptide is little to none, as it is not an FDA-approved or even a legalized drug.

To buy it legally, an individual must access it through a clinical trial, according to the FDA are currently only in phase 3 of testing.  Some people are obtaining unapproved versions through random websites including warning labels stating, “not for human consumption.”

So, it is to say that any products listed online as Retatrutide and safe for human use are illegal and unregulated.

According to fda.gov, experts are aware of the fraudulent marketed products which display labels containing incorrect information as stated above. They claim Retatrutide to not be “safe and effective for any condition.”

Where’s the evidence?

Some users point to a few studies that claim Reta improved body weight, but the long-term effects are still being researched and have yet to undergo long-term human trials.

Some possible side effects are said to be potential, including, but not limited to, heart rate increase, risk of gallstones, and pancreatitis and even precancerous growth. 

Retatrutide, or any other weight loss drug for that matter may show some immediate weight loss, but once appetite is regained, weight gain will likely return. 

It’s important for young people to know what peptides actually are.

They are chains of amino acids and there are millions of them in every human body. Some signal the body to do important things like regulate immune function, grow certain cells and control hormones. The many possible scenarios are unknown.

While there are well-known synthetic peptides that are FDA-approved, effective medicines, insulin for example is one, as is the active ingredient of GLP-1 obesity drugs. But many of the other peptides being “hyped” and marketed are, at best, experimental, and their claimed benefits are unproven.

Research has been in animals or labs, not humans, says Paul Knoepfler, a cell and molecular biologist at University of California, Davis. Depending on the peptide and its application, the science can make theoretical sense, he says, but Knoepfler warned that using an untested peptide could cause serious harm.

For example, some animal studies suggest BPC-157 helps with tissue repair because it accelerates the growth of new blood vessels. Knoepfler cautioned that this peptide could theoretically encourage the growth of precancerous cells.

An influencer primarily popular on “Kick”, a live streaming site, in addition to other social media platforms known as “Clavicular” is the so-called “ring-leader” of the peptide users.

Clavicular is a Gen Z influencer who has shared his story with the world of getting rejected due to his looks and neurodivergent personality throughout his life. He concluded that if he “ascended” (changed his physical appearance to align with societies standards), he would acquire more female validation.

He became an extremely influential figure in a niche social media community otherwise known as “looksmaxxers” or “black pill”.

According to a recent BBC report, “In the often referenced looksmaxxing community, bodybuilder and YouTuber Aziz Sergeyevich Shavershian, or Zyzz, was a proponent of muscular enlargement, with his followers dubbed “the Aesthetics Crew”. Shavershian died of a heart attack at the age of 22, in 2011. A post-mortem examination revealed that Shavershian had an undiagnosed heart condition that triggered cardiac arrest, according to Shavershian’s mother. 

Visual inspirations for looksmaxxers also include male models Jordan Barrett, Sean O’Pry and Francisco Lachowski. Creators online recreate their poses, or caricature the models and Patrick Bateman by donning a smize and a Zoolander pout (a sigma face) as part of the “sigma male” trend.

Some ASU students told Northeast Valley News when asked if they take peptides or know someone who does; out of seven students asked, they all said “yes” and explained various scenarios.

When asked about the influencer Clavicular and his peptide promotion, Michael Buley said, “I think it’s like a really good thing for you, I’ve only heard positive things about peptides, my mom takes peptides.” — “No downsides so far is what I’ve heard.”

It goes without saying many young people are getting into the trend without taking any precautions or speaking to their physician. 

“I think it is a standard at ASU because that’s what everyone else is on, so of course you hop on it as well, it’s kinda the group leader mindset, it’s terrible but literally almost everyone you talk to is on peptides or steroids,” said student Max Boyd.

Young adults treat peptides as an everyday custom, instead of a hard-hitting weight loss drug or an un-tested drug used for other purposes.

Lucas Schiermeyer was asked by Northeast Valley news about his general knowledge on Retatrutid and what he has heard over social media. 

“Reta’s about to get FDA approved, it also helps with cancer, so, Reta’s great.”

When asked where his so confidently shared information was sourced from, he responded, “Chat GPT, everybody on Instagram, and..yup.”

A lot of misinformation is spread on social media platforms and most do not fact check unreliable sources. Some medical experts worry about the potential damage that can be done early on through social media influencers who are being paid to promote untested products.

Cole Hansen told Northeast Valley News, “Shit, I drink it every day of the week, it’s not good for you, but I still do it.”