Influencers pushing illegal injectable peptides over social media are damaging body image for younger generations, according to a popular TikTok influencer.
Peptides are smaller versions of proteins that are made of amino acids and promise weight loss, artificial tanning, anti-ageing and muscle-building.
Social media influencer and business owner Kia Buckley took to TikTok to address her concerns regarding the normalisation of the new drugs.
“Why are we giving the next generation severe mental illnesses of body dysmorphia and eating disorders?” Miss Buckley said.
“They are looking up to people who are denying that they are stabbing themselves to turn off their hunger hormone and becoming so unrealistic.”
@kia.buckley♬ original sound – Kia Buckley
The National Child Health Poll found that 63 per cent of teens get their health information from social media and 41 per cent make health decisions based on social media content.
20-year-old University of Wollongong student Charlotte Lee said that social media content about the injectables had changed the way she thinks about her body.
“It’s being promoted as such an easy and accessible way to improve your body, health and recovery with little side effects, why would I not want to try it?” Miss Lee said.
“It’s hard not to be influenced.”
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a warning against the use of unregulated injectables.
“Unapproved peptides have not been assessed by the TGA for safety, quality or efficacy,” the TGA said in a statement.
“Further to the uncertainty over safety, quality or efficacy, products purchased from online sources may be contaminated, mislabelled or unsafe.”
Ms Lee expressed that it was rare for her to see an influencer being transparent about the associated risks and health concerns.
“I see more influencers posting their dramatic transformations to make peptides more appealing to the audience, not showing realistic results or smaller progress,” she said.
Ms Buckley said that she doesn’t believe influencers understand how triggering and damaging their content can be and warned against promoting unhealthy practices.
Additional reporting: Jade Daly
Feature image: Getty Images
