Thinking about peptides? Doctors reveal key dos and don’ts as ‘Wild West’ market grows

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. New York fitness trainer and gym owner Kenny Santucci discusses concerns about unverified peptide products for muscle building, saying consumers should work with physicians. The peptide boom is under scrutiny as the FDA weighs easing restrictions on several drugs in the category. Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins, have gained popularity among wellness influencers and fitness gurus as a means of building muscle, healing injuries or appearing younger. Similar to how GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists) suppress appetite and trigger weight loss, peptides can signal other functions, like the release of growth hormones. SUPPLEMENT SOLD AT GAS STATIONS SPARKS HEALTH FEARS AS PEOPLE REPORT ADDICTION SYMPTOMS But unlike GLP-1 drugs — which were extensively studied and regulated — many peptides