Injectable peptides are generating a lot of buzz online.

One of these is retatrutide, a drug that’s being described as the next big thing in weight loss. Some say it may be even more powerful than Ozempic or Wegovy, two other popular weight loss drugs. Beyond health care, gym-goers are using it to try to get leaner, faster. This trend is sometimes dubbed “leanmaxxing”.

But there’s a catch. Retatrutide is still experimental. It hasn’t been approved for use anywhere in the world, yet it’s already circulating through illicit online markets.

So is retatrutide a safe way to lose weight? Or does it bring more risks than rewards?

Retatrutide, often shortened to “reta”, is a peptide that researchers are still testing in clinical trials. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that help your body heal wounds and reduce inflammation.

Retatrutide acts on three hormone pathways that affect your appetite, metabolism and blood sugar levels. The first is glucagon-like peptide-1, otherwise known as GLP-1. This hormone reduces appetite and slows down the rate at which food travels through your stomach. The second is GIP or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, which helps regulate blood sugar and fat storage. Glucagon, which also helps manage........

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