RFK Jr.'s move on peptides ignores serious risks | Opinion

Recently, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he would force the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider a ban on peptides.

But as Kennedy pushes to make these unregulated drugs easier to access, the trend is already here. In gyms, locker rooms and group chats, young men around me are talking about peptides in a way that would have been crazy just a few years ago. These substances, which were once only used by serious bodybuilders or in medical settings, are now part of everyday conversation. 

The drugs, which are essentially short chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds, are used by bodybuilders to grow muscle faster. They are not all approved for human use, and while some people, like Kennedy, say they show great promise, there are health dangers.

As a 19-year-old college freshman I hear friends sharing where to get them, how much to take and what results to expect. Many of them don’t seem to think of peptides as drugs with potentially serious side effects. The tone is casual. It feels no different than talking about a new workout plan or diet. 

This shift is happening quickly. Once a niche practice that some athletes and bodybuilders would turn to after years of training, these drugs are now something young men start using shortly after they begin going to the gym. The goal is not just to get stronger, but also to look better as fast as possible. 

Why are young men using peptides?

I have seen this change up close. I have watched friends start using peptides even though they are still new to working out. When they talk about it, they only focus on the benefits. They mention faster muscle growth, better recovery and more confidence.

They rarely talk about risks. Peptides can cause hormone imbalances, dysregulate natural hormone production, lead to organ stress and create a risk of dependence that could also lead to a person using worse drugs.

There may be other harmful side effects that we don’t know about due to lack of research and testing. Many users don’t understand this.

The information they get comes from talking to peers, social media or online forums. There is very little guidance from doctors – which does not seem to stop them.

Behind the peptide use uptick, I believe, is an intense pressure young men today feel to be masculine, physically strong and in control. That pressure comes from many places, including social media which is overflowing with images of muscular, confident men. Dating apps and online culture also add to this, making appearance feel like it is the only thing that matters. For some young men, it can feel like their value is tied directly to how they look.

Peptides offer a way to deal with that pressure. They promise faster results in a world that moves quickly. Instead of spending years trying to build the ideal body, young men can see changes in a much shorter time. This makes peptides appealing, especially for those who feel insecure or like they are lagging behind more muscled peers. 

The way my friends talk about peptides also helps explain why they have become so normalized. They often describe them as tools or as a way to optimize their bodies.

Young men think their worth comes from their appearance

This language makes the decision feel logical and even smart. It removes some of the stigma that used to be connected to performance enhancing substances. Instead of being seen as risky or extreme, peptide use is framed as a practical choice.

The fact that my peers are dealing with this pressure by turning to unregulated drugs raises important questions. What happens when these choices are made so early and with so little guidance? And what does it say about a culture where so many young men feel that they need to change their bodies in order to feel accepted? 

It tells me that this culture prioritizes appearance over identity, and it’s pushing young men to believe that their value comes from how they look. In that environment, turning to peptides feels less like a choice and more like a response to what they think society wants from them. 

We need to find a way to make peptides less attractive to young men. If we make them harder to get, it will just make peptides look more rebellious and enticing. Instead, our culture needs to find a way to look past just appearances. We need to find a way to make masculinity more about who you are and what you care for than what you look like. 

If not, the consequences, I’m afraid, will be young men who are frustrated, confused and potentially carrying lifelong impairments to their health.

Eli Thompson is a college student and writer focused on Gen Z issues. He's written for The Wall Street Journal; appeared on NBC Chicago, WGN and SiriusXM Patriot; and contributed regularly to a nationally syndicated radio show affiliated with CBS, NBC, Fox and CNBC.