Unregulated Peptide Use Raises Eating Disorder Concerns in Young Men

Eating disorder specialists are raising concerns about the growing use of unregulated peptides among young Australian men, warning that the trend reflects an emerging public health issue linked to body image pressures amplified by social media and gym culture.

The concerns follow the case of Alex Boutin, a 33-year-old Sydney man who died of a heart attack in 2024 after more than a decade of steroid and peptide use. Police discovered a cache of bodybuilding drugs in his home following his death, all of which had been recommended by people with no medical qualifications.

His sister Isabella Boutin told the ABC she believed her brother had an undiagnosed eating disorder. “I often used to say, my brother has megarexia. It is very similar to anorexia, in a way,” she said. “When he was big, that’s when he felt in control.”

A growing concern

Eating disorder dietician Alex Rodrigues told the ABC that unregulated peptides being sold or shared in gym communities was a concerning trend in Australia. “They really don’t know what they’re getting, and they don’t know the risks involved,” he said.

Mel Wilton, head of communications and engagement at the Butterfly Foundation, said the rise of unregulated peptide use was particularly concerning “when these substances are targeted at vulnerable people, including young men who may be viewing this content online or hearing it discussed within their social circles.”

The Foundation’s most recent BodyKind Youth Survey, published in 2025, found 84 per cent of boys aged 12 to 18 reported a desire to be more muscular. An estimated 365,000 men are living with an eating disorder in Australia.

Users acquire peptides and exchange information through bodybuilding and looksmaxxing forums, private chat groups, and Telegram channels. Some are introduced to the substances at gyms by older members.

Rodrigues described users being lost in “dark corners and funnels of the internet, where people are obsessively sharing in forums, sharing online how they can go to extreme measures to change their appearances.” He noted that many of the body standards young men compare themselves against are from “people who are drug-enhanced” or using AI-edited imagery.

Isabella Boutin said her brother’s experience at the gym as a teenager set him on a destructive path. “At the gym, he met a few older guys who were really big. They approached him and asked him if he wanted to take some steroids to help him bulk up quicker,” she said. Over 16 years, she watched him spiral into aggression, anxiety, and addiction.

Regulatory context

Unregulated peptides remain illegal to import or sell in Australia. In June 2026, the TGA reported six cases of acute liver toxicity linked to the unapproved weight loss peptide retatrutide. Multiple studies have found that peptide samples contain significantly different dosages to those advertised, and some have been contaminated with heavy metals including lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

Isabella Boutin is now working to establish a support group for people affected by hormone growth drugs. “I hope that the more people who come forward, the more awareness can be spread,” she said.

For educational purposes only. This content is informational and reflects publicly reported developments. It is not legal, medical, or regulatory advice. Consult a qualified professional for compliance questions.