These days, many internet influencers are promoting a wellness trend that sounds like something you might remember from high school bio: peptides.

They’re being sold as ways to improve skin, reverse aging – basically, peptides have become THE  answer to your choice of wellness issues. 

But most of what’s hawked on Instagram or TikTok is not approved by the FDA. . 

That could change: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently said on Joe Rogan’s podcast that he wants to relax restrictions on many peptides. 

In the meantime, people are accessing them through methods that some experts say are…. dangerous.  

Guests:
Alex Hogan, a senior multimedia producer at STAT News and the host of STATus Report


Related links:
Inside the world of internet peptides | STAT News
Peptides Are the New Wellness Cure-All | Intelligencer
 Why 'Anti-Aging' Peptide Shots Are Trending on Social Media | TIME
Peptides take off as a DIY treatment but is that a good idea? : NPR

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

These days, many internet influencers are promoting a wellness trend that sounds like something you might remember from high school bio: peptides.
They&rsquo;re being sold as ways to improve skin, reverse aging &ndash; basically, peptides have become THE&nbsp; answer to your choice of wellness issues.&nbsp;
But most of what&rsquo;s hawked on Instagram or TikTok is not approved by the FDA. .&nbsp;
That could change: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/peptides-fda-unbanned">recently said</a> on Joe Rogan&rsquo;s podcast that he wants to relax restrictions on many peptides.&nbsp;
In the meantime, people are accessing them through methods that some experts say are&hellip;. dangerous.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Alex Hogan, a senior multimedia producer at STAT News and the host of STATus Report </li>
</ul>
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX7rWXK5ME0&amp;t=49s">Inside the world of internet peptides | STAT News</a></li>
<li><a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/peptides-from-instagram-china-wellness-cure.html">Peptides Are the New Wellness Cure-All | Intelligencer</a></li>
<li>&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7380810/anti-aging-peptide-shots-social-media/">Why 'Anti-Aging' Peptide Shots Are Trending on Social Media | TIME</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/23/nx-s1-5716162/peptides-science-muscle-growth-longevity-wellness">Peptides take off as a DIY treatment but is that a good idea? : NPR</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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Wellness influencers and celebrities are touting the wonders of peptides. But there's still a lot we don't know about them.