By Meissa Gueye and Chloe Rabs / AFP, PARIS
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Thomas’ phone alarm buzzes at 9:30pm — it is time for the aspiring bodybuilder to start injecting himself in the stomach with several banned peptides. He takes vials from his refrigerator of GHK-Cu, which he says would give him “beautiful skin,” and Retatrutide, which would help him “feel less hungry.” After adding a liquid to reconstitute the synthetic peptides, he disinfects the syringes and shoots both into his lower abdomen. Thomas, whose name has been changed, takes GHK-Cu daily and Retatrutide three times a week.
A man trains with pull handles at an outdoor gym in Paris on Nov. 5 last year.
“It takes a little organization, but it’s become a routine,” said Thomas, who goes to the gym almost every day. He is one of a growing number of people attempting to “optimize” themselves by using peptides, a class of substances being widely promoted online by influencers, celebrities and the wellness industry.
