The world of peptide influencers | ABC NEWS Loop // TRAIN BRAIN

The world of peptide influencers | ABC NEWS Loop

Social media influencer Josh Sawyer told ABC News Loop he can earn up to $2,000 a week by sharing discount codes for an online peptide supplier. But the unapproved substances he documents using have been linked to serious complications, including kidney and liver damage, allergic reactions and severe vomiting.

In NSW, 1,180 people presented to emergency departments with links to unapproved peptide use between July 2025 and September 2026.

Many compounds promoted online are not approved medicines in Australia, and health experts warn there are significant unknowns about their safety when bought from unregulated suppliers.

Despite this, promises of anti-ageing, muscle growth and faster recovery have helped fuel a booming social media market. Authorities have made unapproved peptides an enforcement priority amid concerns about a growing black market.
Reporting by Blair Wise for ABC News Loop.
Watch the full investigation on ABC News In-depth on YouTube coming soon.
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