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Teenagers as young as 14 buying peptides online

Jan 15, 2026 – 6.54pm Teenagers as young as 14 are injecting themselves with peptides bought online from unregulated manufacturers to improve their suntan or promote faster muscle growth in a trend health professionals have called potentially “catastrophic”. Peptides are short strings of amino acids that occur naturally in the body to manage everything from inflammation to blood sugar levels. Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Subscribe now Already a subscriber? Fetching latest articles

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Study findings do not automatically establish clinical benefit, safety, dosing, or suitability for an individual.

Jan 15, 2026 – 6.54pm

Teenagers as young as 14 are injecting themselves with peptides bought online from unregulated manufacturers to improve their suntan or promote faster muscle growth in a trend health professionals have called potentially “catastrophic”.

Peptides are short strings of amino acids that occur naturally in the body to manage everything from inflammation to blood sugar levels.

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